Very Early Surfactant Without Mandatory Ventilation in Premature Infants Treated With Early Continuous Positive Airway Pressure: A Randomized, Controlled Trial

In premature infants treated with nasal continuous positive airway pressure early after birth, the addition of very early surfactant therapy without mandatory ventilation decreased the need for subsequent mechanical ventilation, decreased the incidence of air-leak syndrome, and seemed to be safe. Reduction in the need for mechanical ventilation is an important outcome when medical resources are limited and may result in less chronic lung disease in both developed and developing countries.