Razi Journal of Medical Sciences

Background: Respiratory distress syndrome is one of the main causes of infant mortality. Surfactant is the standard treatment for it. In this study, complication of surfactant therapy via mechanical ventilation and manual injection were compared in neonates with respiratory distress syndrome admitted in neonatal intensive care unit of Besat hospital in Sanandaj.

Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, 160 infants with respiratory distress syndrome were studied. The patients included 75 patients (46.8%) in whom surfactant was administered by injection via manual ventilation and 85 patients (53.2%) in whom it was administered by mechanical ventilation. Data were entered into the software STATA-11 and t-test and chi-square was used.

Results: Of the 160 preterm neonates, 116 (69%) cases were female and 52 (31%) cases were male. The mean duration of mechanical ventilation (p=0.024) and the mean duration of oxygen therapy (p=0.018) in two groups were statistically significant. Pneumothorax rate, prevalence of Bronchopulmonar Dysplasia (BPD) and mortality rate were different between two groups but weren't statistically significant.

Conclusion: The results showed that the duration of mechanical ventilation is less in surfactant therapy with mechanical ventilation compared to manual ventilation. Considering the fewer complication of surfactant therapy with mechanical ventilation, it is recommended as a better method for surfactant administration than manual ventilation.