Does early surfactant improve outcome in late preterm newborn? Retrospective study in a neonatal intensive care unit.

Objective: To compare the early administration of surfactant, before 12 h of life, versus late, in late preterm neonates (born between 34 and 36 weeks of gestation), with moderate-severe respiratory distress.

Design: Retrospective, observational, analytical, case-control study, with late preterm infants admitted between 2012-2021. It is divided into 2 groups: surfactant administered ≤ 12 h of life and >12 h and evolution is compared using univariate analysis.