SURFactant Administration by SUPraglottic Airway (the SURFSUP Trial)
Summary
Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) is a condition found commonly in babies born prematurely, which results in breathing difficulty soon after birth, due to immaturity of the lungs. Many babies will be managed successfully with breathing support alone, but some require additional treatment with surfactant.
Surfactant is a liquid medicine that is given directly into the baby’s airway (wind pipe), which helps open the lungs to make breathing easier Currently, the standard way to give surfactant requires laryngoscopy.
This method is very effective, but is challenging to learn, and may take more than one attempt even for experienced doctors. Also, during laryngoscopy, some babies may briefly have a drop in their heart rate or oxygen levels.
‘Supraglottic airways’ are a different type of device, made from a soft plastic, shaped to fit into the mouth and form a seal over the airway opening, without passing through the vocal cords. They can be inserted without using a metal laryngoscope, they may be easier for doctors to use and more comfortable for babies.
Previous research suggests that surfactant treatment can be given through a supraglottic airway, but we do not yet know if this method is as effective as using standard laryngoscopy.
This research study will compare the new method, supraglottic airway surfactant treatment, with the current standard method, laryngoscopy.
We will measure how stable babies are during surfactant treatment, including their oxygen levels and heart rate. We will also record how many babies need additional breathing support (ventilation by a breathing tube) after their surfactant treatment, to determine how effective the treatment is in helping babies with respiratory distress.
If supraglottic airway surfactant treatment can be used safely and effectively, and is more comfortable and easier to use, it could become the preferred method of surfactant treatment for babies.
