Growth and development two years after artificial surfactant replacement at birth

Area of Science:

• Neonatalogy
• Pediatric Medicine
• Respiratory Medicine

Background:

• Preterm infants face significant risks, including respiratory distress syndrome.
• Surfactant replacement therapy aims to improve lung function in neonates.
• Long-term outcomes of surfactant therapy require continued investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the two-year follow-up outcomes of preterm infants receiving artificial surfactant replacement.
• To assess potential long-term adverse effects of surfactant therapy on growth, development, and health.

Main Methods:

• A controlled trial involving 80 surviving preterm infants.
• Two-year follow-up assessing hospital admissions, respiratory infections, antibiotic use, common ailments, physical growth, and neurodevelopmental quotients.
• Comparison of outcomes between the surfactant-treated group and the control group.

Main Results:

• No statistically significant differences were observed in hospital admissions, respiratory infections, or antibiotic treatments between groups.
• Physical growth parameters (weight, length, head circumference) were similar up to two years.
• Developmental quotients showed a trend towards higher scores in the treated group (median 100 vs. 95), though not statistically significant (P=0.053).
• Cerebral palsy rates were similar, with milder forms more prevalent in the treated group.

Conclusions:

• Artificial surfactant replacement (dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine and high-density lipoprotein) at birth is not associated with adverse long-term effects in preterm infants.
• The therapy appears safe regarding major health, growth, and developmental outcomes up to two years of age.