Complications among premature neonates treated with beractant and poractant alfa

To compare the complications among preterm infants treated with two different natural surfactants. In a randomized clinical trial, 150 preterm infants with Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) treated with exogenous surfactant, were enrolled in the study. Group A consisted of 79 neonates that received poractant (curosurf). Seventy one newborn infants in group B were treated with beractant (Survanta). The mean gestational age for group A and B were 29.40 +/- 2.90 wk and 29.50 +/- 2.73 wk (P=0.82), respectively. The demographic and clinical variables were similar in both groups. The mean duration of intubation (as a primary outcome) was significantly shorter in infants treated with poractant (3.13 +/- 1.80 vs 4.06 +/- 2.7 days p=0.05). The mean duration of need for oxygen and hospitalization of patients in group A and B were 17.73 +/- 22.25 vs 19.14 +/- 17.85 days (p=0.67) and 24.89 +/- 26.41 vs 29.14 +/- 23.54 days (p= 0.32), respectively. There was no significant difference between groups with respect to mortality and morbidity, including pulmonary hemorrhage, intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), patent ductus arteriosus, sepsis, and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (secondary outcome). In this study, infants who received poractant had shorter duration of intubation than infants treated with beractant, without any difference in the duration of oxygen therapy or hospitalization. There was no significant superiority of poractant over beractant.