CEREBRAL HEMODYNAMICS AND OXYGENATION IN PRETERM INFANTS AFTER LOW-VSHIGH-DOSE SURFACTANT REPLACEMENT THERAPY

In thirteen preterm infants receiving surfactant (Curosurf) replacemen t therapy, changes in cerebral hemodynamics and oxygenation were inves tigated by near infrared spectroscopy. Surfactant instillation led to an instantaneous increase in cerebral blood volume (CBV) in all infant s, which was primarily due to an increase in deoxygenated hemoglobin. Five infants received a low dose (100 mg/kg = 1.25 ml/kg) of surfactan t and 8 a high dose (200 mg/kg = 2.50 ml/kg). A significantly larger i ncrease in CBV was observed in the infants receiving a high dose compa red to those receiving a low dose of surfactant. We conclude that cere bral perfusion is affected more after the instillation of a high dose compared to a low dose of surfactant.