ABSTRACT
Objective To evaluate the clinical effects of nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NC-PAP) and surfactant administration in preterm infants with neonatal respiratory distress syndrome(NRDS) Methods A prospective randomized study was conducted, in which infants <32 weeks' gestation with NRDS were random-ized to the aurfactant-NCPAP (S-N) group or the surfactant-mechanical ventialtion (S-M) group. Results At 7 days after birth, 1 infant (6.25%) in the S-N group and 8 infants (47.00%) in the S-M group were still undergo-ing mechanical ventilation. The duration of oxygen therapy, NCPAP and mechanical ventilation,the need for a sec-ond dose of surfactant, and the days of staying in the intensive care unit were significantly greater in the S-M group. Conclusions The immediate application of NCPAP after surfactant administration for infants with NRDS is safe and beneficial.