Effect of the prenatal steroids in preterm newborn treated with a natural porcine-derived surfactant

Abstract

Introduction: The antenatal corticosteroids increase the beneficial effects of the therapy with exogenous surfactant.
Objective: To find out the effect of the antenatal corticosteroids in preterm newborns treated with exogenous surfactant.
Methods: A multicenter, uncontrolled, prospective, longitudinal and descriptive study was carried from January 2007 to December 2009 in a population of 259 preterm newborns treated with exogenous surfactant to evaluate the effect of the use of antenatal corticosteroids.
Results: The antenatal corticosteroids were used in 59,5 % of mothers; the length of assisted ventilation in newborns as well as the risk of death were reduced (123/31) p: 0.0068; RR: 1.74 (IC:1.16 - 2.60) and p: 0.0003; RR: 2.43 (IC: 1.47 - 4.03), respectively.
Conclusions: The use of antenatal corticosteroids in patients treated with natural porcine-derived surfactant reduced the assisted ventilation support requirement and the neonatal mortality.