Serial Lung Ultrasound Predicting Need for Surfactant and Respiratory Course in Preterm Infants Observational Study (SLURP)

Serial Lung Ultrasound in Predicting the Need for Surfactant and Respiratory Course in Preterm Infants - Observational Study (SLURP)

Babies born early (under 34 weeks) are at risk of developing lung problems after birth. A major reason for this is that the lungs are not fully developed (lung immaturity). One of the important components not yet produced by the lungs is the surfactant, which allows premature babies to breathe without much effort. Very often babies born early need some help with their breathing and also need surfactant. Surfactant is administered through a breathing tube which is placed into the baby's airway. It is important that surfactant is administered early after birth when the baby cannot produce it. Early administration of surfactant provides better clinical outcomes.

Currently the decision to give surfactant is based on clinical parameters such as the level of oxygen that your baby requires. Current strategy of waiting for the baby to reach certain oxygen level, may delay in administering surfactant. But recent scientific data from other countries suggest that ultrasound of the chest/lungs can predict early which babies would need surfactant. This would help us to administer surfactant earlier and improve their respiratory outcome. In this study, we want to confirm the value of chest/Lung ultrasound (LU) to predict the need for surfactant in UK population. As a part of the study, we will perform early LU and serial LU in the first few days of life. In this current study, LU images will only be recorded and not used for clinical management.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Infant, Premature

Detailed Description

Participant group for the study: Babies born under 34 weeks with a risk of developing lung problems after birth.

This study is an observational study to confirm the value of chest/Lung ultrasound (LU) to predict the need for surfactant in UK newborn population. As a part of the study, the investigators will perform early LU and serial LU in the first few days of life.

The investigators will perform the first LU within 3 hours of admission. A Second LU will then be taken at 3-6 hours after surfactant administration (if the baby receives surfactant) or at 6-12 hours of life (if the baby continues to be on Non-invasive respiratory support). A third LU is then taken on Day 2 (12-24 hours after the second LU) and a fourth LU on Day 3 (12-24 hours after the third LU). Then the investigators will carry out additional clinical data collection at hospital discharge.

Ultrasound is a common procedure carried out in newborn population. The scan should not take more than 3 to 5 minutes. All other data would be obtained from patient notes and databases.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 86

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United Kingdom
  • Middlesbrough, United Kingdom
    • South Tees NHS Foundation Trust

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 5 months to 7 months (Child)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Recruiting the neonatal (Newborn) population. Currently there is no definite way of identifying which infant would need surfactant so this research would study study the value of lung ultrasound in predicting which infant would benefit from surfactant

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Gestational age ≤34 weeks based on last menstrual period or ultrasound dating.
2. Non-invasive respiratory support or low flow oxygen needing neonatal unit admission

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Received surfactant before first LU (<3hrs of life).
2. Major congenital malformations including congenital lung disease and congenital heart disease as ascertained by the medical team.
3. Infants receiving delivery room surfactant or required intubation shortly after admission.
4. Infants diagnosed with pneumothorax needing needle or chest tube drainage

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Value of chest/Lung ultrasound (LU) to predict the need for surfactant in preterm population.	Lung ultrasound scores within the first 3 hours of life to predict the need for 1st Dose of surfactant	3 hours of age

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Loganathan PK, Meau-Petit V, Bhojnagarwala B, Nair V, Holmes J, Occhipinti A, Montasser M. Serial lung ultrasound in predicting the need for surfactant and respiratory course in preterm infants-multicentre observational study (SLURP). Eur J Pediatr. 2025 May 23;184(6):356. doi: 10.1007/s00431-025-06185-7.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): May 15, 2023
• Primary Completion (Actual): June 17, 2024
• Study Completion (Actual): June 17, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: January 25, 2023
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 22, 2023
• First Posted (Actual): March 23, 2023

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 7, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 1, 2026
• Last Verified: May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Babies born under 34 weeks; Risk of developing lung problems after birth
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Urogenital Diseases; Female Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy Complications; Obstetric Labor, Premature; Obstetric Labor Complications; Pregnancy Complications; Premature Birth
• Other Study ID Numbers: PRENET 2297

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No