Respiratory Effect of the LISA Method with Sedation by Propofol Versus Absence of Sedation.

Non-inferiority trial comparing Propofol versus placebo during the intra tracheal Less Invasive Surfactant Administration (LISA) in preterm babies < 32 weeks of gestation for the need for mechanical ventilation after the procedure. An open-label ketamine treatment as rescue is possible in each group.

In each participating unit, information will be given to parents of preterm babies <32 wGA upon their admission to the delivery room or to the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit), and informed consent will be sought as soon as possible. Eligible babies presenting a RDS (respiratory distress syndrome) will be included and randomized to the control (placebo) group or Propofol group. While benefiting from Nasal Intermittent Positive Pressure Ventilation (NIPPV) the newborn will be prepared as usual for tracheal intubation. Trialists will be blinded to treatment allocation.

The drug administration in the two groups will be titrated according to weight (0.5mg/kg per dose of Propofol or a similar volume of placebo). After each dose, a pain score (FANS) will be quickly evaluated within 2 minutes of the injection, to assess the need for a supplementary dose (up to a predefined limit) or rescue treatment by Ketamine.

After the steps of sedation, the LISA procedure will be performed, with detailed data collection of per procedure events up to 72 hours of life. Babies will be subsequently managed as usual in each NICU and data will be collected about respiratory, neurological and hemodynamic outcomes during the hospital stay, and especially at discharge, 28 days, and 36 weeks. At two years of corrected age, a final examination will be performed to evaluate neurodevelopmental outcomes.