A comparison of the outcomes of neonates treated with two different natural surfactants.
OBJECTIVE
Our purpose was to determine whether there exists a mortality difference between neonates treated with Infasurf (surfactant A [SA], ONY, Inc, Amherst, NY) and Survanta (surfactant B [SB], Ross Products Division, Abbott Laboratories, Columbus, OH).


METHODS
We evaluated 114 different neonatal units' records, between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2000, of neonates < or = 36 weeks' estimated gestational age who were admitted for neonatal intensive care and reported to have been treated with SA or SB. We used stepwise logistic regression analysis to determine whether the type of surfactant was associated with increased incidence of neonatal death, severe intraventricular hemorrhage, or necrotizing enterocolitis independent of estimated gestational age, birth weight, sex, method of delivery, use of antenatal steroids, or place of birth.


RESULTS
We studied the records of 5169 neonates; 1115 (22%) received SA and 4054 (78%) received SB. The most important variables associated with neonatal death, intraventricular hemorrhage and necrotizing enterocolitis were birth weight and estimated gestational age. Logistic regression showed that the type of surfactant did not significantly influence any of these 3 outcomes. Neither overall mortality (8.3% vs 8.5%) or birth weight-specific mortality was different between the 2 groups.


CONCLUSIONS
The differences in mortality previously reported are not present in a larger, more contemporary data set.
Clark
R H
RH
Pediatrix-Obstetrix Center for Research and Education, Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc, Sunrise, Florida 33325-2825, USA.
Auten
R L
RL
Peabody
J
J
D001688:Biological Products; D001724:Birth Weight; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015931:Intensive Care, Neonatal; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate
D001688:Biological Products; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants; C117342:calfactant; C072197:beractant