Clinical Outcomes of Minimally Invasive Surfactant Therapy via Tracheal Catheterization in Neonates with a Gestational Age of 30 Weeks or More Diagnosed with Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Abstract

Purpose: Minimally invasive surfactant therapy (MIST) is currently used as a method of surfactant replacement therapy (SRT) for the treatment of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in preterm infants with a gestational age of less than 30 weeks. However, few stud­ ies have been conducted on MIST in neonates with a gestational age of 30 weeks or more. In this study, we compared MIST with endotracheal intubation as a rescue SRT for spontaneously breathing neonates with a gestational age of 30 weeks or more who were diagnosed with RDS. Methods: We investigated the clinical characteristics of spontaneously breathing neo­ nates admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of the Inje University Sanggye Paik Hospital from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2016. These neonates were born at a ges­ tational age of 30 weeks or more and were diagnosed with RDS. The neonates who were administered surfactant by MIST were categorized into the MIST group (n=16) and those who underwent endotracheal intubation were categorized into the control group (n=45). Thereafter, the clinical characteristics between the groups were compared. Results: Compared to the control group, the MIST group was less likely to require me­ chanical ventilation within 72 hours (P<0.001). The frequency of bradycardia during SRT was also low in the MIST group (P=0.033). Conclusion: MIST is considered relatively feasible and safe for treating RDS for reducing the need for mechanical ventilation and decreasing the occurrence of bradycardia during surfactant administration in neonates with a gestational age of 30 weeks or more.