Using Pulmonary Artery Acceleration Time to Evaluate the Effect of
Surfactant Therapy on Preterm Infants with Respiratory Distress Syndrome
Abstract
Abstract Introduction: Pulmonary artery acceleration time (PAAT) is a
reliable and noninvasive method of assessing pulmonary hemodynamics in
children and adults, but it lacks validity for preterm infants. The aim
of this study was to assess changes in PAAT among preterm infants with
neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (NRDS) who are receiving
pulmonary surfactant (PS) therapy, and to determine its potential
significance in terms of respiratory outcomes. Methods: Between January
and December 2019, 62 preterm infants with a gestational age of 27–31
weeks, a risk of NRDS, and who had been started on nasal continuous
positive airway pressure were reviewed. Infants who received PS
treatment were allocated to the PS group, and those who did not were
allocated to the control group. We then studied PAAT and other
ultrasonic parameters at three different time points after birth,
comparing the groups’ values . Results: PAAT increased after PS
treatment, but over time (up to 36 weeks postmenstrual age) PAAT in the
PS group increased at a slower rate than that in the control group.
Conclusion: PAAT is a convenient and sensitive method of accurately
assessing pulmonary vascular diseases among preterm infants. Preterm
infants with NRDS might still have respiratory diseases in the late
postnatal period; thus, they require full attention and long-term
follow-up observation.