Association of Administration of Surfactant Using Less Invasive Methods With Outcomes in Extremely Preterm Infants Less Than 27 Weeks of Gestation
Authors: Härtel Christoph , Herting Egbert , Humberg Alexander , Hanke Kathrin , Mehler Katrin , Keller Titus , Mauer Isabell , Frieauff Eric , Meyer Sascha , Thome Ulrich H. , Wieg Christian , Schmidtke Susanne , Kribs Angela , Göpel Wolfgang ,   German Neonatal Network, Faust Kirstin , Müller Dirk , Gebauer Corinna , Guthmann Florian , von der Wense Axel , Stangl Oliver , Weller Ursula , Höhn Thomas , Olbertz Dirk , Felderhoff-Müser Ursula , Rossi Rainer , Teig Norbert , Heitmann Friedhelm , Heckmann Matthias , Laux Reinhard , Bohnhorst Bettina , Roth Bernd , Vochem Matthias , Keller-Wackerbauer Annette , Möller Jens , Eichhorn Joachim , Wintgens Jürgen , Böttger Ralf , Reese Jochen , Hubert Mechthild , Dördelmann Michael , Hillebrand Georg , Roll Claudia , Jensen Reinhard , Rüdiger Mario , Werner Claudius , Longardt Ann Carolin , Schäfer Stefan , Schaible Thomas , Franz Axel , Heldmann Michael , Kunzmann Steffen , Schmidt Esther , Orlikowsky Thorsten , Gerleve Hubert , Depping Nico , Haase Roland , Hoppenz Marc , Seeliger Stephan , Küster Helmut , Fuchs Hans , Körner Thorsten , Brune Thomas , Müller Andreas , Urlichs Florian , Berghäuser Martin , Proquitté Hans , Morhart Patrick , Lindner Wolfgang , Schlösser Rolf , Schneider Welfhard , Schroth Michael , Rieger-Fackeldey Esther , Dohle Frank , Sinnecker Gernot , Völkl Thomas , Brevis Nunez Francisco , Welsch Michael , Krüger Marcus 
Published: August 2022

Importance

The inclusion of less invasive surfactant administration (LISA) in the care of preterm infants has been found to be beneficial for respiratory outcomes. Recently, the OPTIMIST trial found higher mortality rates in the subgroup of infants born at 25 to 26 weeks’ gestational age (GA) who received surfactant treatment while spontaneously breathing.

Objective

To analyze outcomes among LISA-exposed, highly vulnerable babies born at less than 27 weeks’ GA within the large-scale observational cohort of the German Neonatal Network.

Design, Setting, and Participants

In this cohort study of data from 68 tertiary level neonatal intensive care units in Germany of infants born between 22 weeks 0 days to 26 weeks 6 days of gestation between April 1, 2009, and December 31, 2020, short-term outcomes among infants receiving LISA vs infants not receiving LISA were compared.

Exposure

Use of LISA within the first 72 hours of life.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The main outcomes were rates of LISA use, use of mechanical ventilation within the first 72 hours (considered failure of LISA), and association of LISA with outcomes, including death from all causes, bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), death and BPD combined, pneumothorax, retinopathy of prematurity, intracerebral hemorrhage, and periventricular leukomalacia. To address potential confounding factors, multivariate logistic regression models were used.

Results

A total of 6542 infants (3030 [46.3%] female and 3512 [53.7%] male; mean [SD] GA, 25.3 (1.1) weeks; mean [SD] birth weight, 715 [180] g) were analyzed; 2534 infants (38.7%) received LISA, which was most frequently given quasi-prophylactically during delivery room management. Among the infants who received LISA, 1357 (53.6%) did not require mechanical ventilation in the first 72 hours compared with 331 infants (8.3%) of 4008 who did not receive LISA. In a multivariate logistic regression model that adjusted for GA, small-for-GA status, sex, multiple birth, inborn status, antenatal steroid use, and maximum fraction of inspired oxygen in the first 12 hours of life, LISA was associated with reduced risks of all-cause death (odds ratio [OR], 0.74; 95% CI, 0.61-0.90; P = .002), BPD (OR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.62-0.78; P &amp;lt; .001), and BPD or death (OR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.57-0.72; P &amp;lt; .001) compared with infants without LISA exposure.

Conclusions and Relevance

The results of this long-term multicenter cohort study suggest that LISA may be associated with reduced risks of adverse outcomes in extremely preterm infants.