Background: Current guidelines for management of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) recommend continuous\npositive airway pressure (CPAP) as the primary mode of respiratory support even in the most premature neonates,\nreserving endotracheal intubation (ETI) for rescue surfactant or respiratory failure. The incidence and timing of ETI in\npractice is poorly documented.\nMethods: In 27 Level III NICUs in the US (n = 19), Canada (n = 3) and Poland (n = 5), demographics and baseline\ncharacteristics, respiratory support modalities including timing of ETI, administration of surfactant and caffeine/other\nmethylxanthines, and neonatal morbidities were prospectively recorded in consecutive preterm neonates following\nwritten parental consent. Infants were divided into three groups according to gestational age (GA) at birth, namely\n26-28, 29-32 and 33-34 weeks. Statistical comparisons between groups were done using Chi-Square tests.\nResults: Of 2093 neonates (US = 1507, 254 Canada, 332 Poland), 378 (18%) were 26-28 weeks gestational age (GA),\n835 (40%) were 29-32 weeks, and 880 (42%) were 33-34 weeks.....................
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