Guidelines for surfactant replacement therapy in neonates.

Surfactant replacement therapy (SRT) plays a pivotal role in the management of neonates with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) because it improves survival and reduces respiratory morbidities. With the increasing use of noninvasive ventilation as the primary mode of respiratory support for preterm infants at delivery, prophylactic surfactant is no longer beneficial. For infants with worsening RDS, early rescue surfactant should be provided. While the strategy to intubate, give surfactant, and extubate (INSURE) has been widely accepted in clinical practice, newer methods of noninvasive surfactant administration, using thin catheter, laryngeal mask airway, or nebulization, are being adopted or investigated. Use of SRT as an adjunct for conditions other than RDS, such as meconium aspiration syndrome, may be effective based on limited evidence.

Characteristics and outcomes of preterm neonates according to number of doses of surfactant received.

OBJECTIVES: To identify characteristics and outcomes of infants who received multiple doses of surfactant vs those who received one dose or none. STUDY DESIGN: In this retrospective study, we included neonates of 22-28 weeks' gestation admitted to NICUs in the Canadian Neonatal Network. Patients were divided into three groups: no surfactant, single dose, and multiple doses. The primary outcome was a composite of mortality or any of the major morbidities, including severe neurological injury, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, or ≥stage 3 retinopathy of prematurity. RESULTS: Of 8024 eligible neonates, 2461 (31%) did not receive surfactant, 3545 (44%) received one dose, and 2018 (25%) received >1 dose. Receiving one or more doses of surfactant was associated with significantly higher adjusted odds of mortality or major morbidities in a dose-dependent manner. CONCLUSIONS: Receiving one or more doses of surfactant was associated with adverse neonatal outcomes. Receipt of more than one dose may reflect underlying severe lung immaturity.

Predictors of Severe Neurologic Injury on Ultrasound Scan of the Head and Risk Factor-based Screening for Infants Born Preterm.

OBJECTIVE: To identify risk factors for severe neurologic injury (intraventricular hemorrhage grade 3 or greater and/or periventricular leukomalacia) diagnosed by ultrasound scan of the head among infants born at 300-326 weeks of gestation and compare different screening strategies. STUDY DESIGN: This was a retrospective cohort study of infants born at 300-326 weeks or >326 weeks of gestation with a birth weight <1500 g admitted to neonatal intensive care units in the Canadian Neonatal Network from 2011 to 2016. Stepwise logistic regression analysis was used to identify significant risk factors and calculate aORs and 95% CIs. Risk factor-based screening strategies were compared. RESULTS: The rate of severe neurologic injury was 3.1% among infants screened (285/9221). Significant risk factors included singleton birth (aOR 1.96, 95% CI 1.35-2.85), 5-minute Apgar <7 (aOR 1.81, 95% CI 1.30-2.50), mechanical ventilation on day 1 (aOR 2.65, 95% CI 1.88-3.71), and treatment with vasopressors on day 1 (aOR 3.23, 95% CI 2.19-4.75). Risk categories were low (no risk factor, 1.2%, 25/2137), moderate (singleton with no other risk factor: 1.8%, 68/3678), and high (≥1 risk factor among 5-minute Apgar <7, receipt of vasopressors or mechanical ventilation on day 1: 5.6%, 192/3408). Screening moderate- to high-risk infants identified 91% (260/285) of infants with severe neurologic injury and would require screening fewer infants (1647 infants per year) than screening all infants <33 weeks of gestation (2064 infants screened per year, 93% [265/285] of cases identified). CONCLUSIONS: Risk factor-based ultrasound scan of the head screening among infants born at 30-32 weeks of gestation could help optimize resources better than gestational age based screening.