Surfactant therapy in premature infants with respiratory distress syndrome in Phetchabun Hospital

Abstract

     The purpose of this retrospective descriptive study was to study surfactant therapy in premature infants with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in the neonatal intensive care unit, Phetchabun Hospital. To study the clinical characteristics of premature infants with respiratory distress, surfactant therapy in premature infants with RDS and compared the clinical characteristics and outcomes among infants receiving surfactant within 2 hours and greater than 2 hours after birth. The subjects in this study were 93 premature infants with RDS who were diagnosed in Phetchabun Hospital from 1 August 2019 to 31 July 2022.

     Results showed that 55 (59.1%) premature infants were treated with surfactant in Phetchabun Hospital. Most infants were diagnosed with moderate to severe RDS. Survival rate was 87.3%. Sixty percent of premature infants received surfactant therapy within 2 hours after birth. Two separate groups of infants were compared, those treated with surfactant within 2 hours of birth and greater than 2 hours after birth. It was found that infants in both groups were gestational age, birth weight and place of delivery were significantly different (P <0.05). Antenatal dexamethasone received before birth was not significantly different (P >0.05). Infants that gestational age less than 30 weeks or birth weight less than 1250 gram for receiving surfactant as soon as possible.