Outcome of Surfactant replacement therapy for respiratory distress syndrome in preterm babies

Introduction: Surfactant is an important treatment modality in preterm babies with respiratory distress syndrome leading to decrease in mortality, morbidity and cost of treatment. Experiences on surfactant therapy in Nepal are scarce. This study was conceptualised to find the use and immediate outcome of surfactant therapy in preterm babies in a tertiary care hospital in Nepal. Methods: A cross-sectional study was done in preterm babies who received surfactant over period of five years at neonatal / pediatric intensive care unit at Patan Hospital, Lalitpur, Nepal. After approval from Institutional review committee, information on gestational age, sex, birth weight, doses of dexamethasone, doses and time surfactant delivery, complications and immediate outcome was retrieved from the files. Comparison between early and late rescue group was done. Data was analysed using SPSS 16. Results: Twelve babies (11.2%) needed a repeat dose of surfactant. Only 12 (11.2%) babies received early rescue surfactant. About 53 (49.5%) babies developed complications with hypotension being the most common seen in 38 (35.5%) babies. Complications were 75% and 46% in the early and late rescue group respectively (p - 0.22). The mortality was inversely proportional to the gestational age (p - 0.002) and birth weight (p < 0.05). Mortality was 16% in both the groups but the deaths related to complications of surfactant was all in the late rescue group. Conclusions: Complications were more in early rescue group and mortality was similar in both the groups, but mortality related to complications of surfactant was all in the late rescue group. Complications of surfactant therapy and mortality were inversely proportional to the gestational age and birth weight.