Comparison of prophylactic versus selective surfactant therapy in very small preterm infants

This randomised clinical trial investigates whether prophylactic surfactant administration shortly after birth using a new, minimally invasive method (known as "less invasive surfactant administration" or LISA) leads to a measurable improvement in lung function at the age of five. Premature infants in the control group may also be treated with the LISA method, but will only receive surfactant if they show signs of laboured breathing or require more than 40% oxygen. The lung function of the premature infants is measured shortly before discharge from hospital as well as at the age of five by a study team without information on whether the premature infant has received prophylactic surfactant administration or not. The primary endpoint of the study is lung function at the age of five, measured as forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1).