Who Needs a Second Dose of Exogenous Surfactant?

OBJECTIVE

To identify prenatal and postnatal risk factors associated with surfactant redosing.

STUDY

DESIGN

Retrospective, single-regional center study including all infants born from 24 + 0 to 31 + 6 weeks of gestation in the Marche Region, Italy, and admitted to a single level III regional NICU from January 1, 2004, to February 28, 2021. Clinical factors associated with surfactant redosing were identified through logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

Of 1615 consecutive admissions, 662 infants were treated with exogenous surfactant: 462 (70%) received a single dose and 200 (30%) received more than 1 dose (25.5% two doses and 4.5% three doses). Risk of redosing was higher for infants born to mothers with hypertension in pregnancy (OR 3.95, P < .001), for small for gestational age (SGA) infants (OR 3.93, P < .001) and when the first surfactant dose was 100 mg/kg instead of 200 mg/kg (OR 4.56/4.61, P < .001). Infants with greater GA, delayed first surfactant administration, and milder respiratory distress syndrome had reduced risk of redosing. Infants who required multiple surfactant doses had a higher rate of bronchopulmonary dysplasia and mortality, as well as longer duration of respiratory support than patients that received 1 dose.

CONCLUSIONS

Hypertension in pregnancy and SGA status were found to be statistically and clinically significant predictors of surfactant redosing. Understanding the pathophysiology of these conditions requires further investigation.