Multicentre, randomised trial of preterm infants receiving caffeine and less invasive surfactant administration

Felix Ines1, Shandee Hutson2, Katherine Coughlin2

  • 1Neonatal Research Institute, Sharp Mary Birch Hospital for Women and Newborns, San Diego, California, USA.

BMJ Open
|January 23, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Early caffeine therapy combined with less invasive surfactant administration (LISA) and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) may reduce mechanical ventilation needs in preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). This trial investigates the efficacy of this combined approach for improved respiratory support in neonates.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal Medicine
  • Respiratory Physiology
  • Clinical Trials

Background:

  • Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) is a significant cause of mortality and morbidity in premature infants.
  • Current management involves continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and fractional inspired oxygen (FiO2), with less invasive surfactant administration (LISA) as an option to avoid mechanical ventilation.
  • Early caffeine therapy is hypothesized to enhance the success of non-invasive respiratory support strategies like LISA.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate if early caffeine therapy, CPAP, and LISA reduce the need for invasive mechanical ventilation in preterm infants with RDS within the first 72 hours of life.
  • To compare the efficacy of early caffeine, CPAP, and LISA versus caffeine and CPAP alone in managing RDS.

Main Methods:

  • A multicentre, unblinded, randomized controlled trial (CaLI) involving 180 preterm infants (24+0-29+6 weeks corrected gestational age).
  • Infants randomized within 1 hour of life, with treatments initiated by 2 hours.
  • Treatment failure criteria include high CPAP/FiO2 requirements, specific blood gas derangements, or persistent cardiorespiratory events despite nasal intermittent minute ventilation.

Main Results:

  • This is a pre-results abstract; therefore, main results are not yet available.
  • The trial is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04209946).

Conclusions:

  • The study aims to determine if a combination of early caffeine, CPAP, and LISA can optimize non-invasive respiratory support for preterm infants.
  • Findings are expected to inform clinical practice regarding the management of RDS in extremely preterm neonates.
Abstract

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