Risk Factors for INtubation-SURfactant-Extubation Failure in Infants With Neonatal Respiratory Distress Syndrome.

Purpose: To identify clinical characteristics predictive of failure or success of the INtubation-SURfactant-Extubation (INSURE) strategy, to distinguish infants who could be managed using this strategy to prevent mechanical ventilation (MV).

Methods: Infants with a gestational age <32 weeks were classified into two groups according to whether they required reintubation and MV within 72 h after birth. The clinical characteristics of the two groups were subsequently analyzed.

Results: INSURE was unsuccessful in 77 infants (20.7%). Infants in the INSURE failure group had a higher incidence of severe respiratory distress syndrome, as evidenced by radiological grade; lower blood pH, partial oxygen pressure, and base excess (BE) levels; higher partial carbon dioxide pressure levels at the first arterial blood gas analysis; lower Apgar scores at 1 and 5 min; lower use of antenatal steroids; and higher occurrence of gestational diabetes mellitus, versus those in the INSURE success group. Multiple regression analysis confirmed severe radiological grade, lower BE levels at the first arterial blood gas analysis, and decreased use of antenatal steroids as independent risk factors for INSURE failure. Compared with infants in the INSURE success group, those in the INSURE failure group also had higher mortality.

Conclusions: We successfully identified specific predictors of an unsuccessful INSURE strategy. Maintaining high-risk preterm infants with one or several predictors intubated and treated with MV after surfactant administration can prevent reintubation and reduce mortality.