Surfactant Effects on Mortality and Morbidity of Respiratory Distress Syndrome in Neonates

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the mortality and morbidity rates of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) treated with and without surfactant in ventilated patients.
Methods: In this descriptive-analytical study, the morbidity and mortality rates of RDS in 50 patients of the study group treated with surfactant were compared with 66 patients of control group treated without surfactant. The children of the control group received treatment at a time when surfactant was not available in market. Surfactant was used as Survanta during the first 24 hours of life with a dose of 4 ml/kg in four different positions through tracheal tube only once.
Findings: The two groups were comparable in baseline parameters including birth weight, sex, gestational age and primary diagnosis. Mortality reduced significantly. There were no differences in the incidence of severe complications including, intraventricular hemorrhage and patent ductus arteriosus, but pneumothorax, sepsis and pulmonary hemorrhage occurred more common in the control group.
Conclusion: Use of surfactant in neonatal respiratory distress syndrome significantly decreased mortality, pneumothorax, sepsis and pulmonary hemorrhage.