Minimally-invasive surfactant therapy in preterm infants on continuous positive airway pressure.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the applicability and potential effectiveness of a technique of minimally-invasive surfactant therapy (MIST) in preterm infants on continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP).


METHODS
An open feasibility study of MIST was conducted at two sites. Infants were eligible for MIST if needing CPAP pressure ≥7 cm H(2)O and FiO(2) ≥0.3 (25-28 weeks gestation, n=38) or ≥0.35 (29-32 weeks, n=23). Without premedication, a narrow-bore catheter was inserted through the vocal cords under direct vision. Surfactant (100 or 200 mg/kg Curosurf) was then instilled, followed by reinstitution of CPAP. Outcomes were compared between surfactant-treated infants and historical controls achieving the same CPAP and FiO(2) thresholds.


RESULTS
Surfactant was successfully administered via MIST in all cases, with a rapid and sustained reduction in FiO(2) thereafter. For infants at 25-28 weeks gestation, need for intubation <72 h was diminished after MIST compared with controls (32% vs 68%; OR 0.21, 95% CI 0.083 to 0.55), with a similar trend at 29-32 weeks (22% vs 45%; OR 0.34, 95% CI 0.11 to 1.1). Duration of ventilation and incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia were similar, but infants receiving MIST had a shorter duration of oxygen therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
Surfactant delivery via a narrow-bore tracheal catheter is feasible and potentially effective, and deserves further investigation in clinical trials.
Department of Paediatrics, Royal Hobart Hospital, Liverpool Street, Hobart TAS 7000, Australia. peter.dargaville@dhhs.tas.gov.au
Peter A
PA
Dargaville
Ajit
A
Aiyappan
Antonio G
AG
De Paoli
Carl A
CA
Kuschel
C Omar F
CO
Kamlin
John B
JB
Carlin
Peter G
PG
Davis
D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D045422:Continuous Positive Airway Pressure / Q000379:methods*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D062071:Infant, Extremely Premature; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants