Cost of surfactant replacement treatment for severe neonatal respiratory distress syndrome: a randomised controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the cost of treating babies with severe respiratory distress syndrome with natural porcine surfactant.


METHODS
Retrospective controlled survey.


METHODS
Regional neonatal intensive care unit, Belfast.


METHODS
33 Preterm babies with severe respiratory distress syndrome who were enrolled in a European multicentre trial during 1985-7. 19 Babies were treated with surfactant and 14 served as controls.


METHODS
Treatment with natural porcine surfactant.


METHODS
Cost associated with surfactant replacement treatment per extra survivor in the treatment group and cost per quality adjusted life year for each extra survivor.


RESULTS
Fifteen (79%) of the 19 treated babies and five (36%) of the 14 control babies survived. On average, the control babies required 20 days in hospital compared with 61 days for the treated babies (or 95 [corrected] days per extra survivor in the treatment group). The cost per extra survivor in the treatment group was pounds 13,720, with the cost per quality adjusted life year estimated at pounds 710.


CONCLUSIONS
These costs compare favourably with those of established forms of treatment in adults. Thus surfactant replacement treatment for severe respiratory distress syndrome is fairly inexpensive and cost effective.
Tubman
T R
TR
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Royal Maternity Hospital, Belfast.
Halliday
H L
HL
Normand
C
C
D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015931:Intensive Care, Neonatal / Q000191:economics*; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000191:economics; D008297:Male; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants