Does inhaled salbutamol before surfactant therapy have any beneficial effect?

Abstract

Beta (β)2 adrenergic receptors are present in alveolar type II cells. Previously,the beneficial effects of inhaled salbutamol treatment on respiratory outcomeswere shown in premature infants with transient tachypnea of the newborn. Wehypothesized that inhaled salbutamol would increase the effects of surfactanton oxygenation in premature infants with respiratory distress syndrome(RDS). Inhaled salbutamol (0.15 mg/kg) or normal saline solution (0.30 ml/kg) was administered as a single dose by micropump nebulizer 10 minutesbefore the first dose of surfactant (Poractant alfa) treatment in 40 infantswith gestational ages ranging from 26 to 36 weeks. The effects of salbutamoltherapy were evaluated by determining the duration of respiratory support,number of doses of surfactant, respiratory rate, heart rate, fraction of inspiredoxygen, and partial pressure of arterial oxygen before and after salbutamolnebulization. No statistically significant difference was detected between thetwo groups in duration of respiratory support, number of doses of surfactant,respiratory rate, fraction of inspired oxygen, or partial pressure of arterialoxygen. In this study, no significant effect of inhaled salbutamol treatmenton the surfactant therapy in premature infants with RDS was detected.