Surfactant replacement therapy: a multicentric trial comparing two dosage approaches

This is an interim analysis of a multicentric trial that took place in 7 Neonatal Units to compare two initial doses of exigenous pulmonary surfactant (100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg of phospholipids)by using a porcine surfactant for the treatment of very severe Hyaline Membrane Disease. The initial higher dose produced better oxigenation of arterial blood, reducing the time in high oxygen concentrations,while retreatments were necessary in less than half of the infants receiving 200 mg/kg as initial dose. The protocol of this study allowed the administration of additional doses only when FiO(2) was equal or greater than 0.40 instead of > 0.21, as in a large study recently published, where the same initial doses were given. This resulted in more than 40% reduction in the amount of surfactant administered,with apparently similar clinical outcome.