Outcome of Early Versus Late Surfactant Therapy in Preterm Neonates with Respiratory Distress Syndrome at a Tertiary Care Centre

ABSTRACT

Background: Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) or hyaline membrane disease (HMD), has been recognized as the most common co-morbidity of prematurity. Prematurity and RDS largely contribute to early neonatal morbidity and mortality. With adequate antenatal steroid and early continuous positive airway pressure, early surfactant therapy improve survival outcome.Material & Methods:Prospective interventional study included newborns with prematurity 28-36 weeks(GA) with clinical Respiratory distress syndrome and birth weight(BW)>650 gm. All subjects were preferably provided early surfactant therapy (within 2hours after birth). Surfactant (survanta) was delivered by INSURE technique (Intubate- Surfactant administration- Extubate) and only those who required further respiratory support were ventilated. Records on birth weight, gestational age, timing of therapy (early/late), sepsis, complications, and survival/death outcome were collected and data was analyzed using SSPS version 20 software.Results:Out of 76 neonates (42 male, 34 female), 46 received early surfactant therapy and 30 obtained it late; Although mortality was observed with both early(36.66%) and late therapy(63.33%), there was significantly higher survival with early therapy. higher mortality occurred in lower Birth weight(LBW) /Gestational age (GA) subgroups. Culture positive sepsis was found in 52.6% with higher association with late therapy . Hypotension was most common complication with late intervention , whereas there was no difference for pulmonary haemorrhage or apnea.Conclusion:Early surfactant administration improved survival with minimal complications in RDS except for extremely premature/LBW babies.