Neurodevelopmental and health outcomes in term infants treated with surfactant for severe respiratory failure

OBJECTIVE: Analysis of health, neurodevelopmental, and school performance outcomes in a pilot study of term and near-term infants with respiratory failure due to pneumonia or meconium aspiration treated with surfactant. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective review of medical records, neurodevelopmental and psychosocial evaluations, and parent and teacher surveys. RESULTS: Of the 14 patients enrolled, only one was rehospitalized, for pneumonia. Three were reported to have episodes of wheezing, two of whom required bronchodilators. One patient had unilateral hearing loss, one had a full-scale intelligence quotient that was below normal, and all but one patient for whom complete results were obtained were performing at or above grade level. CONCLUSION: Term and near-term newborns with moderately severe respiratory failure treated with surfactant can, in general, be expected to recover completely and have normal general health, neurodevelopmental outcome, and school performance.