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Early use of combined exogenous surfactant and inhaled nitric oxide reduces treatment failure in persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn: a randomized controlled trial

Journal of Perinatology volume 41, pages 32–38 (2021)Cite this article

Subjects

A Correction to this article was published on 07 September 2020

This article has been updated

Abstract

Objective

To evaluate whether combined surfactant with inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) use will prevent newborns with hypoxemic respiratory failure (HRF) from developing an Oxygenation Index (OI) > 40.

Methods

100 term newborns with acute HRF (OI ≥ 20) were randomized to: Surfactant+iNO: received iNO plus up to two doses of surfactant or iNO-Controls: received iNO+placebo. Main outcome was the development of severe HRF (OI > 40) despite iNO use.

Results

Baseline mean ± SD OI was 37.4 ± 14 for the Surfactant+iNO group and 38.2 ± 16 for the controls. Infants receiving surfactant+iNO improved their oxygenation faster, resulting in lower OI at 24 h: 12.9 ± 9 vs 18.7 ± 11 of controls, p < 0.05; and a lower proportion developing OI > 40: 24%(12/50) vs 50%(25/50) of controls, p < 0.02. Fewer infants receiving surfactant+iNO presented the combined outcome of death or ECMO: 16%(8/50) compared to 36%(18/50) of controls, p < 0.05.

Conclusions

Early use of combined surfactant+iNO improves oxygenation preventing the progression to severe HRF. This may reduce mortality and ECMO need.

Trial registration number

ISRCTN13727958

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Fig. 1: Consort diagram of eligible study infants.
Fig. 2: Change in Oxygenation Index.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Angélica Domínguez for their statistical assistance and for the valuable help of the group of research collaborators of the five centers listed in Appendix 1.

Funding

Funded by the Chilean Fund for Health Research (FONIS): Project: SA07I20035.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neonatology, Division of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile

    Alvaro González, Matías Luco, Héctor Pérez & Javier Kattan

  2. Hospital Guillermo Grant Benavente and Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile

    Aldo Bancalari

  3. Hospital Luis Tisné, Santiago, Chile

    Waldo Osorio

  4. Hospital San José, Santiago, Chile

    Agustina González

  5. Hospital Sótero del Río, Santiago, Chile

    Héctor Pérez

Authors
  1. Alvaro González
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  4. Matías Luco
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  7. Javier Kattan
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Correspondence to Alvaro González.

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Appendix 1: Collaborators

Appendix 1: Collaborators

The following members from the centers are non-author contributors to this study. They contributed with data collection and provided clinical care for study patients:

Hospital Clínico Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago: Katherine Flores, Rodrigo Lagos, Claudia Miralles, María Eugenia Pérez, Solange Rojas, Angélica Vives.

Hospital Guillermo Grant, Concepción: Lilian Cifuentes, Andrea Saldías, Claudia Aburto.

Hospital Dr. Luis Tisné, Santiago: María Lidia Poblete, Paula Vasquez.

Hospital San José, Santiago: Ana María Pacheco, Paula Ponce.

Hospital Dr. Sótero del Rio, Santiago: Mónica Ahumada, Patricia Mena, Claudia Toro.

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González, A., Bancalari, A., Osorio, W. et al. Early use of combined exogenous surfactant and inhaled nitric oxide reduces treatment failure in persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn: a randomized controlled trial. J Perinatol 41, 32–38 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-020-00777-x

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