A comparative study of surfactant versus nonsurfactant therapy among preterm with respiratory distress syndrome

Abstract

Background: Respiratory distress is a clinical condition characterized by the presence of one or more signs of increased work of breathing including tachypnea, nasal flaring, grunting, and chest wall retraction. Objective: The objective of the study was to study the outcome of surfactant therapy in preterm with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). Materials and Methods: A prospective comparative study was conducted in the neonatal intensive care unit of a tertiary care hospital in Cuttack, Odisha, over a period of 2 years. Parents of the babies, who gave their consent for surfactant (who can afford), were assigned as surfactant group while those who could not afford it, were included in nonsurfactant group after matching general characteristics. Results: Overall, mortality was less in the surfactant group (28.94%) than in nonsurfactant group (54.92%). However, the late neonatal death was more in the surfactant group (63.63%) than in nonsurfactant group (53.84%). Sepsis was the most common cause of the death in both groups, contributing 58% to overall death of both groups. Conclusion: Surfactant should be used in preterm with established RDS with due care to neonatal sepsis.