Timing of surfactant treatment in respiratory distress syndrome

The introduction of exogenous surfactant in the 1980s has resulted in an improved survival of very preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). Randomized controlled trials conducted before 2000 have shown that the magnitude of this beneficial effect strongly depends on the timing of surfactant treatment, i.e. the earlier surfactant is administered after birth the better. However, the initial mode of respiratory support in infants with RDS has changed dramatically over the last decades, moving from invasive to non-invasive support. Furthermore, new, less invasive techniques to administer surfactant have been introduced to match this non-invasive approach. This review summarizes the evidence on how these practice changes impacted the effect of surfactant timing on mortality and morbidity in preterm infants with RDS.

Five-year single center experience on surfactant treatment in preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome: LISA vs INSURE

BACKGROUND

Surfactant administration traditionally involved endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation, which is associated with a risk of barotrauma and volutrauma.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the morbidity and mortality rates between LISA-treated and INSURE-treated premature babies with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS).

METHODS

We assessed retrospectively the medical records of preterm infants who were born at 25^0/7 to 29^6/7 weeks of gestation and were administered surfactant initially either with LISA or INSURE method over a five-year period.

RESULTS

Analysis of the data of 205 LISA-treated and 178 INSURE-treated infants revealed the mean gestational age as 28.1 ± 1.3 and 28 ± 1.3 weeks and mean birth weight as 1041 ± 205 and 1029 ± 222 g in LISA and INSURE groups, respectively. The mechanical ventilation requirement in the first 72 h of life (%26.8-%42.1, p = 0.002) and the incidence of moderate-severe BPD (%12.2-%21.9, p = 0.01) were lower in LISA-treated infants. LISA method was found as an independent factor in reducing mechanical ventilation requirement in the first 72 h of life and incidence of moderate-severe BPD [RR: -0.49 (%95 CI -0.28 to -0.85), p = 0.01].

CONCLUSION

Data obtained from our five-year clinical experience are comparable with the recent literature. LISA is currently the most suitable method of surfactant administration and it should be the first choice in spontaneously breathing infants considering its favorable effects on respiratory morbidities in preterm infants with RDS.