New modes of surfactant delivery

The provision of exogenous surfactant to premature infants with respiratory distress syndrome has revolutionized the way we care for these patients, significantly improving survival and decreasing morbidity. Currently, the Intubate-SURfactant-Extubate (INSURE) to non-invasive ventilation method remains the standard method for surfactant delivery in the United States. However, the INSURE method requires intubation via direct visualization with a laryngoscope and possible need for sedation. Both carry significant risk to the patients, prompting the development of less invasive ways of safely and efficaciously providing surfactant to newborn infants. The present article reviews and describes the benefits and limitations of several of these alternative methods, including Less Invasive Surfactant Administration (LISA), Minimally Invasive Surfactant Therapy (MIST), via aerosolization, laryngeal mask airway (LMA), and direct nasopharyngeal deposition, focusing on assessment of clinical benefits and the level/risk of invasiveness.