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Less invasive surfactant administration methods: Who, what and how

Abstract

Surfactant administration via an endotracheal tube (ETT) has been the standard of care for infants with respiratory distress syndrome for decades. As non-invasive ventilation has become commonplace in the NICU, methods for administering surfactant without use of an ETT have been developed. These methods include thin catheter techniques (LISA, MIST), aerosolization/ nebulization, and surfactant administration through laryngeal (LMA) or supraglottic airways (SALSA). This review will describe these methods and discuss considerations and implementation into clinical practice.

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Fig. 1: MIST/LISA technique. Used with permission.
Fig. 2: Aerosol technique.
Fig. 3: SALSA technique.

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SG and KR contributed equally to the design, drafting, revising, and final approval of the manuscript.

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Guthrie, S.O., Roberts, K.D. Less invasive surfactant administration methods: Who, what and how. J Perinatol 44, 472–477 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-023-01778-2

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