Timing of initial surfactant treatment in very low birth weight newborns.

Objective: To correlate the timing of treatment using exogenous surfactant with the main variables related to respiratory distress syndrome or prematurity.

Methods: A historic cohort study between January 1, 2004 and June 30, 2007, including very low birth weight newborns (birth weight <1,500 g) admitted to the hospital and who required surfactant therapy. Newborns were divided into three study groups: early (treatment during the first two hours); intermediate (treatment between two and six hours) and late (treatment after six hours).