Less Invasive Surfactant Administration Reduces the Need for Mechanical Ventilation in Preterm Infants: A Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Neonatal respiratory distress syndrome due to surfactant deficiency is associated with high morbidity and mortality in preterm infants, and the use of less invasive surfactant administration (LISA) has been increasingly studied. This meta-analysis found that LISA via thin catheter significantly reduced the need for mechanical ventilation within the first 72 hours (relative risk [RR] = 0.677; P =.021), duration of mechanical ventilation (difference in means [MD] = −39.302 hours; P