Table 1. Baseline Characteristics.
| Minimally invasive surfactant therapy (n = 241)a |
Control treatment (n = 244)a |
|
|---|---|---|
| Demographic characteristics | ||
| Gestational age, median (IQR), wk | 27.3 (26.3-28.1) | 27.3 (26.4-28.0) |
| Birth weight | ||
| Mean (SD), g | 929 (221) | 928 (216) |
| <10th Percentile | 34 (14.1) | 34 (13.9) |
| Sex | ||
| Female | 116 (48.1) | 125 (51.2) |
| Male | 125 (51.9) | 119 (48.8) |
| Plurality and birth order | ||
| Singleton | 150 (62.2) | 169 (69.3) |
| First of multiples | 41 (17.0) | 32 (13.1) |
| Second or subsequent multiple | 50 (20.7) | 43 (17.6) |
| Peripartum details | ||
| Exposure to antenatal glucocorticoids, doses prior to delivery | ||
| ≥2 | 156 (64.7) | 175 (71.7) |
| 1 | 63 (26.1) | 50 (20.5) |
| 0 | 22 (9.1) | 19 (7.8) |
| Delivery mode | ||
| Vaginal | 45 (18.7) | 52 (21.3) |
| Cesarean with labor | 96 (39.8) | 82 (33.6) |
| Cesarean without labor | 100 (41.5) | 110 (45.1) |
| Apgar score at 5 min, median (IQR)b | 8 (7-9) | 8 (7-9) |
| Clinical state at randomization | ||
| Age, mean (SD), h | 2.9 (1.4) | 2.8 (1.5) |
| Continuous positive airway pressure level required at randomization, median (IQR), cm H2O | 7 (6-8) | 7 (6-8) |
| Fraction of inspired oxygen | ||
| Level required at randomization, median (IQR) | 0.35 (0.30-0.39) | 0.35 (0.30-0.40) |
| Level required ≤0.35 | 152 (63.1) | 150 (61.5) |
a
Data are expressed as No. (%) unless otherwise indicated.
b
Indicates success of transition at birth. The score range is 0 to 10. A score of 0 to 2 is given for each of the following: heart rate, respiratory effect, reflex irritability, muscle tone, and skin color. An Apgar score greater than 7 at 5 minutes after birth generally indicates a satisfactory transition for a preterm infant.