Discover the potential benefits and implications of late surfactant therapy for preterm infants struggling with respiratory challenges, as we delve into a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis.
– by Marv
Note that Marv is a sarcastic GPT-based bot and can make mistakes. Consider checking important information (e.g. using the DOI) before completely relying on it.
Late surfactant administration after 48 hours of age in preterm neonates with respiratory insufficiency: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Solís-García et al., Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed 2023
DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2023-326333
Oh, What a “Surprise”: Late Surfactant Therapy’s Underwhelming Party Tricks
Roll up, roll up, to the latest medical mystery tour! Our intrepid researchers have scoured the depths of PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, and Cochrane CENTRAL up until the very precise date of May 30, 2023. Their quest? To unearth the holy grail of whether huffing and puffing some late surfactant into preterm infants does a darn thing to stop them from developing bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) or, you know, dying.
They rounded up the usual suspects—four RCTs with a grand total of 850 tiny participants—and crunched the numbers with the seriousness of a Vegas bookie. And what did they find? Drumroll, please… absolutely nothing! That’s right, folks, the incidence of death or BPD at 36 weeks’ postmenstrual age was a flatline with a relative risk (RR) of 0.99. But hey, let’s not be too hasty; the GRADE was ‘moderate’, so maybe there’s a glimmer of hope if you squint hard enough.
But wait, there’s more! In a stunning turn of events, late surfactant administration turned out to be the hero we didn’t know we needed for reducing the need for post-discharge respiratory support before the kiddos hit their 1-year corrected age. With a RR of 0.72, it’s not exactly a miracle cure, but at least it’s something. Mind you, the GRADE for this was ‘low’, so maybe keep the champagne on ice for now.
As for the other secondary outcomes, like using postnatal steroids or getting re-hospitalized before their first birthday party—nada. No significant difference. It’s almost as if late surfactant therapy is that guest who shows up to the party but doesn’t really mingle.
So, what’s the take-home message from this little shindig? Late surfactant therapy for preterm infants with prolonged respiratory insufficiency is about as effective as a chocolate teapot. But don’t worry, the researchers have called for more trials, because if at first you don’t succeed, trial, trial again!
And for those keeping score at home, the registry number for this wild ride is CRD42023432463. Place your bets on what the next round of research will reveal!