Very Early Surfactant and NCPAP for Premature Infants With RDS

For patients randomized to early NCPAP plus surfactant, 4ml/kg of surfactant were administered through an endotracheal tube in two aliquots, 2 minutes apart followed by positive pressure ventilation administered for one minute with a Neopuff Infant Resuscitator pre-set to give a peak pressure of 20 cm H2O and 5 cm H2O of positive end expiratory pressure. Infant was then extubated and placed on NCPAP of 6 cmH2O

"Premature infants randomized to bubble NCPAP alone will continue on NCPAP until they reach yes or no treatment failure criteria."