Less invasive surfactant administration (LISA): experience from a local neonatal unit

This article reviews the background of the less invasive surfactant administration (LISA) technique, the methods used in our local neonatal unit, and a comparison with practice in other units. It provides a brief review of the evidence for the use of routine sedation in LISA and the use of pain scores in the neonatal unit. We demonstrate how we have successfully introduced the LISA technique into our local neonatal unit, thereby reducing the need for neonatal transfer to a neonatal intensive care unit.

Cara L. Owens
Paediatric Specialty Doctor
cara.owens@aapct.scot.nhs.uk

Raju Sunderesan
Paediatric Consultant
raju.sundersan@aapct.scot.nhs.uk

Ayrshire Maternity Unit, University Hospital Crosshouse, Kilmarnock

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Keywords

surfactant; less invasive surfactant administration (LISA); pain score; sedation

Key points

The LISA technique has good success rates for administering surfactant to neonates without the need for mechanical ventilation.
We analysed our practice over two years since introduction, specifically looking at those infants needing sedation.
In general, routine sedation is not needed in preterm infants.
LISA can be carried out safely and effectively in smaller local neonatal units.

Also published in Infant:

VOLUME 16/ISSUE 4, JULY 2020

Administration of surfactant via the LISA technique in a level 3 unit in Scotland

The LISA (less invasive surfactant administration) procedure delivers surfactant to infants with respiratory distress syndrome via a fine catheter inserted directly into the trachea while maintaining spontaneous respiration on non-invasive ventilation. Following establishment of a standard operating procedure and the training of senior medical staff, the level 3 neonatal unit at Princess Royal Maternity Hospital, Glasgow, was the first in Scotland to implement this procedure. In this article we discuss our procedures and audit our results over a 15-month period.