Intratracheal administration of budesonide with surfactant for prevention of death or bronchopulmonary dysplasia in extremely low birth weight infants - a before-after study.

Objectives: Previous studies have suggested a potential role for inhaled corticosteroids, such as budesonide, in reducing bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) among preterm infants. The objective of our study was to investigate the effectiveness of intratracheal administration of corticosteroid with surfactant on the composite outcome of death or BPD at 36 weeks in extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants.

Study Design: This before-after cohort study compared outcomes in ELBW infants with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) who received intratracheal surfactant with budesonide to a historical cohort who received surfactant alone. Data was collected retrospectively for neonates in the surfactant group and prospectively for those receiving surfactant plus budesonide.

Results: A total of 385 ELBW infants were included. Death or BPD occurred in 123/203 (60.5%) in the surfactant with budesonide group versus 105/182 (57.6%) in the surfactant group; adjusted odds ratio 1.10 (95% CI 0.69 to 1.75; p=0.69). Statistical analysis revealed no significant difference in the incidence of the composite primary outcome (death or BPD at 36 weeks of post menstrual gestational age), and its components, between the two study groups.

Conclusion: In our study, co-administration of budesonide and surfactant was deemed safe and feasible among ELBW infants with RDS. However, we did not observe a significant reduction in the rates of composite or individual outcomes of death or BPD. Larger, randomized controlled trials are necessary to explore the potential advantages of this intervention.