[Effect of a bovine surfactant in very low birth weight premature infants with congenital pneumonia]

Abstract

15 VLBW-infants, who were classified to suffer from congenital pneumonia, were treated with a bovine surfactant. Mean gestational age was 25.5 weeks (range 23-27 weeks), mean birth weight was 700 g (range 530-930 g). Surfactant was instilled intratracheally at a mean dose of 41 mg/kg body weight (b.w.) (range 30-50 mg) 8 h after birth (range 6-12 h), if the fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2) was greater than 0.5 or the peak inspiratory pressure (PIP) was greater than 22 cm H2O (b.w. less than 750 g) or greater than 25 cm H2O (b.w. 751-1000 g). Retreatment up to a total maximum of 4 doses of surfactant was permitted. Surfactant treatment reduced FiO2 from a pretreatment value of 0.79 to 0.50 one hour after application, however, 12 h later FiO2 had increased again to 0.75. Ventilation pressures showed a slight decrease during 12 h after surfactant treatment. 6 infants received 1 dose, multiple doses were given to 9 infants. 5 infants survived, 4 infants died from respiratory failure, 4 from sepsis and 2 from severe intracranial haemorrhage.