Efficacy of surfactant administration to preterm infants via thin catheter versus InSurE technique.

Abstract

Objectives: To compare the efficacy of administering surfactant to preterm infants using thin catheter and Intubate-Surfactant-Extubate (InSurE) techniques in terms of need of mechanical ventilation within 1^st 72 hours of life. Study Design: Randomized controlled trial. Setting: Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), Federal Postgraduate Medical Institute and Shaikh Zayed Hospital (FPGMI and SZH), Lahore. Period: From November 2014 to April 2015. Material & Methods: A total of one hundred preterm infants who developed respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) and fulfilled the inclusion criteria were enrolled in the study. The enrolled infants were randomly divided into two groups each comprising fifty infants. The infants in Group A were administered surfactant via thin catheter technique, whereas those in Group B by InSurE technique. The infants were monitored by clinical and laboratory parameters for the need of mechanical ventilation within 1^st 72 hours of life. Descriptive statistical analyses were performed. Results: Majority of the preterm infants in Group A (54%) and Group B (56%) were born through Caesarean section. Group A constituted 58% (n=29) males and 42% (n=21) female infants, while Group B constituted 52% (n=26) males and 48% (n=24) females. Mean gestational age in Group A and Group B was found to be 29.43±4.24 weeks and 28.54±3.87 weeks, respectively. Mean birth weight in Group A and Group B was found to be 1375.87+143.36 and 1392.87+129.27 grams, respectively. Efficacy of surfactant was recorded as 64% (n=32) in group A and 44% (n=22) in group B (p=0.04). Conclusion: Surfactant administration using thin catheter is significantly more efficacious than InSurE in respect of the need of mechanical ventilation during 1^st 72 hours of life.