One-year follow-up of 89 infants with birth weights of 500 to 749 grams and respiratory distress syndrome randomized to two rescue doses of synthetic surfactant or air placebo

Two-year neurodevelopmental outcome of preterm born children <=750 g at birth

“…A review of Lorenz et al reported a MDI of <70 in approximately 14.3% of the infants with a birth weight ≤800 g. 2 However, the percentage of ELBW children with a MDI of <70 assessed with the BSID (at 18–24 months of age) ranged from 10.6% to 50%. Hack et al and Casiro et al found a MDI of <70 in 20% and 23%, respectively, in infants weighing 500–750 g at birth 1 16. A review of Hack et al demonstrated a MDI of <70 in 13–47% of children with a birth weight of <750–800 g 18.…”

Risk Factors for Retinopathy of Prematurity Requiring Photocoagulation

“…Surfactant improved survival rates, and the incidence of severe ROP was significantly decreased in the surfactant group compared with the air placebo group (15% vs. 34%). 5 However, the target population for surfactant therapy is primarily high-risk, low-birthweight infants with RDS. The present finding that the use of rescue surfactant is an increased risk factor seems reasonable.…”

Surfactant-Replacement Therapy for Respiratory Distress in the Preterm and Term Neonate

“…8,9 Despite surfactant treatment, the risk of respiratory abnormalities later in infancy (recurrent wheezing, asthma, respiratory infection, pulmonaryfunction test abnormalities) and early childhood remains high for preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome who require mechanical ventilation. [88][89][90][91][92][93][94][95][96][97][98][99] In a small number of patients followed through school age, pulmonary-function studies seem improved by surfactant replacement. 90 Additional long-term respiratoryfunction studies are needed of children who have received surfactant as neonates.…”