A Prospective, Multicenter, Observational StUdy of PREMEdication Before Laryngoscopy in NEOnates (SUPREMEneo)

To evaluate the implementation of the 2023 French Society of Neonatology (SFN) guidelines for premedication before laryngoscopy in neonates without life-threatening emergencies.

A prospective, observational cohort study was conducted across 141 French and Belgian neonatal units. Laryngoscopy data from intubation or less invasive surfactant administration in neonates <45 weeks postmenstrual age were collected. The primary outcome was the proportion of premedication consistent with SFN guidelines. Factors associated with guideline compliance were analyzed using multivariable mixed-effects logistic regression adjusted for neonatal and procedural characteristics.

Six hundred seventy-three laryngoscopies were included. The mean (SD) gestational age was 30.1 (4.8) weeks. Of 506 intubations, 110 (21.7%) were immediate life-threatening emergencies. Among 396 non-life-threatening intubations, 357 (90.1%) were preceded by premedication with 169 (42.7%) consistent with SFN guidelines (propofol alone [n = 149, 37.6%]; a fast-acting opioid + muscle blocker [n = 20, 5.1%]). Independent factors associated with SFN guidelines compliance were non-emergent intubation (adjusted odds ratio 3.1 [95% CI 1.4-7.0]) and absence of hemodynamic compromise (adjusted odds ratio 31.0 [95% CI 6.4-150.3). Propofol and ketamine were the most frequent premedications before intubation, followed by opioids and/or anesthetics. Of the 167 less invasive surfactant administration procedures, 151 (90.4%) were preceded by a specific premedication including propofol (n = 84, 50.3%), consistent with SFN guidelines.

Ninety percent of non-life-threatening laryngoscopies were preceded by a premedication but fewer than half complied with SFN guidelines. Further studies on efficacy and tolerance of neonatal anesthetics and drugs associations are needed.