Beractant is a drug that is known as a lung surfactant. It is a bovine lung extract that is made up of phospholipids. It replaces inadequate or insufficient endogenous lung surfactant in babies with respiratory distress syndrome (RSD). It is an effective surfactant that brings down surface tension among air and alveolar surfaces, thus preventing alveoli collapse during expiration.
Beractant is given directly into the baby’s lungs by a breathing tube that is also connected to a ventilator. Blood pressure, your baby’s breathing, oxygen levels, and other vital signs will be monitored closely. Your baby will undergo observation during treatment with beractant. Your baby will be treated in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
To treat infants with RDS requiring mechanical ventilation, give immediately, preferably 8 hours after birth. Beractant automatically reduces the incidence of RDS, mortality due to RSD and air leak complications. This medicine should be given under the supervision of clinicians who are experienced in intubation and ventilator management and overall health care for the premature infant. Improvement in breathing can be seen within minutes after giving beractant. Therefore, constant and careful clinical observation and checking of systematic oxygenation are crucial to prevent complications.
Rales and moist breath sounds may be heard briefly after use. Endotracheal suctioning or other remedies are not usually required unless clear-cut signs of airway obstruction are present. The anticipation of post-treatment nosocomial sepsis in those treated with beractant was monitored in controlled clinical trials.
During the treatment, the infant should be monitored closely. Feeding and bowel problems, noisy breathing, and bleeding around the endotracheal tube are some side effects. If the infant shows a slow heartbeat, blood in urine, abnormalities in urine output, pale skin, breathing that stops, this can be an indication of serious side effects that need to be treated by health professionals.
