Predicting Surfactant Need at Birth: Failed Validation of a Bedside Method Using Gastric Aspirates.

ABSTRACT:

Aim

To validate a prototype point-of-care (POC) test for the lecithin/sphingomyelin (L/S) ratio by identifying the optimal L/S cut-off for predicting surfactant need in preterm infants < 30 weeks' gestation using gastric aspirates (GAS) sampled at birth and to assess clinical feasibility.

Methods

GAS was sampled within 45 min of birth and analysed using the only available prototype POC L/S test. The primary outcome was the optimal L/S cut-off and diagnostic accuracy in predicting rescue surfactant treatment per European RDS guidelines, assessed by receiver operating characteristics. L/S results were blinded to clinicians. Due to a dispute between clinical investigators and patent holders, legal restrictions prohibit reporting of the primary outcome.

Results

Of 93 elig

SUBMITTER: Heiring C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12420868 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature