Lung Ultrasound Score for Prediction of Surfactant Administration in Preterm Infants with Respiratory Failure

We investigated the predictive value of a lung ultrasound score (LUS) for surfactant administration in a United States Level 4 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Thirty infants born at <37 weeks gestational age with respiratory distress syndrome associated respiratory failure requiring continuous positive airway pressure were included. A LUS was obtained within six hours of life. Surfactant administration in the first five days of life was recorded. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis for LUS and surfactant administration was performed.

Median completed gestational age was 33 weeks (31–34 weeks interquartile range) and median birth weight was 2.0 kg (1.5–2.3 kg). LUS for predicting an initial surfactant dose had an area under the ROC curve of 0.97. A score > 9 provided 100% sensitivity and 91% specificity for predicting administration of an initial surfactant dose.

A LUS > 9 provided excellent sensitivity and specificity for predicting which infants will receive surfactant for associated respiratory failure.