Background
Nasal continuousâpositive airway pressure (nCPAP) with the INSURE (INtubationâSURfactantâExtubation) or LISA (LessâInvasive Surfactant Administration) procedures are increasingly being chosen as the initial treatment for neonates with surfactant deficiency. Our objective was to compare the effects on cerebral oxygenation of different methods for surfactant administration: INSURE and LISA, using a nasogastric tube (NT) or a LISAcathÂź catheter, in spontaneously breathing SFâdeficient newborn piglets.
Methods
Eighteen newborn piglets with SFâdeficient lung injury produced by repetitive bronchoalveolar lavages were randomly assigned to INSURE, LISAâNT, or LISAcathÂź groups. We assessed pulmonary (gas exchange, lung mechanics, lung histology) and hemodynamic (mean arterial blood pressure, heart rate) changes, cerebral oxygenation (cTOI) and cerebral fractional tissue extraction (cFTOE), with nearâinfrared spectroscopy, carotid blood flow and brain histology.
Results
SFâdeficient piglets developed respiratory distress (FiO2â=â1, pH <7.2, PaCO2 >70âmmHg, PaO2 <70âmmHg, Cdyn <0.5âmL/cmH2O/kg). Rapid improvements in pulmonary status were observed in all surfactantâtreated groups without hemodynamic alterations. In the INSURE group, a transient decrease in cTOI occurred during and immediately after surfactant administration, while cTOI only decreased during surfactant administration in the LISAâNT group and did not change significantly in the LISAcathÂź group. Brain injury scores were low in all surfactantâtreated groups.
Conclusion
In spontaneously breathing SFâdeficient newborn piglets, shortâlasting decreases in cerebral oxygenation are associated with surfactant administration by the INSURE method or LISA using an NT, while no cerebral oxygenation changes occurred with LISA using a LISAcathÂź. Notably, none of treatments studied seems to have a negative impact on the neonatal brain.