Surfactant replacement therapy in respiratory distress syndrome: Two years of experience [RESPIRATUAR DISTRES SENDROMUNDA SURFAKTAN REPLASMAN TEDAVISI: IKI YILLIK DENEYIM SONUCLARI]

We present the results of 20 premature infants with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) treated with exogenous surfactant (Survanta). The mean gestational age of the infants was 29.1 ± 2.8 (23-24) weeks with a mean birth weight of 1248 ± 301 (755-1750) g. Infants with perinatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, intrauterine infections and congenital malformations were not included in the study. Surfactant (100 mg/kg, 4 ml/kg) was administered intratracheally to neonates within six hours after birth under the rescue strategy. Four infants received a second dose of surfactant after 6-8 hours. A significant decrease was observed in the fraction of inspired oxygen and partial pressure of carbondioxide, and a significant increase was observed in blood pH and partial pressure of oxygen following surfactant therapy. The survival rate was 50% in infants weighing 1501-150 g, and 41.6% in those weighing 1000-1500 g. Four patients weighing less than 1000 g did not survive. Sixteen (80%) patients had some complications, the main complication being systemic infection (40%). These results show that RDS-related mortality can be reduced in our neonatal intensive care unit by administering surfactant to premature infants suffering from RDS.