ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Symptoms of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), which is inverse correlation with gestational age and birth weight, occur in premature infants and newborns. The main objective of the study is comparative evaluation of the effects of BLES and Survanta on treatment of RDS in newborns. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In all, 100 patients were randomly divided into two groups of 50 subjects in this study. While the group receiving BLES included 32 (64%) male and 18 (36%) female infants, there were 29 (58%) male and 51 (52%) female infants in the other group which received Survanta. RESULTS: Although the results of this study showed improvement in respiratory status based on Downes scoring system in both groups after receiving surfactant, there was no significant difference in terms of short-term respiratory enhancement based on Downes scoring system among two groups. Pulmonary hemorrhage was the most frequent complication, with five cases (10%), among infants in BLES group; with five cases, pneumonia was the most observed complication in the group receiving Survanta. No significant difference in terms of complication was observed between two groups (P = 0.438); there was no significant difference in terms of mortality among two groups (P = 0.828). CONCLUSION: Both groups experienced respiratory status enhancement after receiving surfactant and the results of arterial blood gas (ABG) showed positive effects and efficiency of both drugs. Lack of significant difference in the effects of two mentioned drugs, BLES and Survanta, can be the main cause behind the absence of significant difference between two groups in terms of changes in respiratory status or ABG in newborns. No significant difference was observed in terms of complication between two groups, indicating lack of difference in the effects of medicines injected for infants suffering from RDS.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: A newborn is highly fragile whose death can be caused by embryonic, intrapartum, and postpartum factors. Identifying the causes of death is the first step to be taken in order to decrease the death rate. The present study was aimed at finding out how neonatal factors and therapeutic actions affect death of newborn babies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The is a case-control study where the case group included 250 dead neonates who were hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit during 2007-2009. The control group also included 250 newborn neonates who were hospitalized in the same unit and were discharged alive and healthy after they were treated appropriately. Researcher-designed questionnaires including demographic characteristics of mothers and infants, causes of hospitalization, treatment and its complications, and causes of death were used to collect the required data. Chi-square test, odds ratio (OR), and logistic regression were applied to analyze how the variables were related. P < 0.05 were considered significant. Statistical analyses were carried out using software SPSS 16.0. RESULTS: The results of advanced logistic regression model showed that first-minute Apgar less than 6 (OR = 4.02), existence of birth asphyxia (OR = 6.16), hyaline membrane disease (OR = 4.08), and sepsis (OR = 6.42) increased the death rate of neonates hospitalized in the intensive care unit, and applying nasal continuous positive airway pressure and multiparity decreased the death rate of newborn babies. There was no significant correlation between variables such as low birth weight, consanguinity, blood group, pr eterm labor history, and baby's gender, and the death rate of neonates. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the study show that factors such as low Apgar score, asphyxia, hyaline membrane disease, sepsis, prematurity and congenital anomalies, and method of delivery have a positive effect on the death of neonates. They also prove that suitable management and carrying out appropriate therapeutic actions and intensive care decrease the death rate of newborn babies.
