Laryngeal mask airway surfactant administration: case series of 60 infants
N Smee, Duncan Boyd, Hilary Conetta, Joyce E O’Shea
Abstract
We introduced surfactant administration via supraglottic airway (otherwise known as the laryngeal mask airway or LMA) to treat respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in infants greater than 1.2 kg in two Scottish neonatal units (level 3 and level 2). We report the outcomes of the first 60 infants treated between December 2018 and May 2020. Prior to implementation a comprehensive review of available evidence was undertaken,1 including five randomised controlled trials (n=307) all of whom demonstrated a reduction in need for intubation and ventilation in treated infants. Adverse events were minimal, and the technique was reported as well tolerated by infants and easy for staff to learn. We wrote a guideline,2 and developed multimedia teaching materials that complemented simulation training …