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Echography-guided Surfactant THERapy (ESTHER) for Preterm Infants with Respiratory Failure

This study is looking at a new way to decide when to give surfactant therapy to premature babies who have breathing problems (Respiratory Distress Syndrome or RDS). Surfactant is a medicine that helps babies' lungs work better. The study will use a special ultrasound of the lungs, called Echography-guided Surfactant THERapy (ESTHER), to help doctors decide when to give this medicine. This is being compared to the usual way doctors decide. They hope this new method will lead to earlier treatment and better breathing for these babies. Babies can join if they are born between 27 and 36 weeks of pregnancy, are 0 to 2 hours old, and need breathing support for RDS. The main goal is to see how well babies are breathing at 24 hours of life.

Study design
This interventional study plans to include 52 premature infants. It compares a new method of guiding surfactant therapy using lung ultrasound to current standard practices.
What's involved
Not specified in the trial record.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
The primary outcome, Oxygen Saturation Index, is measured at 24 hours of life.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT06446453

Echography-guided Surfactant THERapy (ESTHER) For Preterm Infants With Respiratory Failure

Recruiting
NAAges 0–2InterventionalTreatment
Connecticut Children's Medical Center
~52 participants
Updated 2026-07-01 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Echography-guided Surfactant THERapy (ESTHER)

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Oxygen Saturation Index
Measured over At 24 hours of life.

Conditions

Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn
Pulmonary Surfactants
Intensive Care Units, Neonatal

Explore related trials

Respiratory Distress Syndrome

NCT06446453

Where you'd take part

This study runs at 1 site. They're the same protocol — you choose where, and that choice sets who your contact draft is addressed to.

  • Connecticut Children's

    Hartford, Connecticutno site contact published

    Recruiting

Sites open and close at different times, so the status above is per site — it can differ from the study's overall status.

Study leadership

  • Jacob Kelner · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Connecticut Children's

Who to contact

Jacob Kelner
[email protected]
860-545-9720
Email the study team

Opens a ready-to-send draft in your own email app — review before sending.

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

The infant's parent/legal guardian can understand and willingly sign a written informed consent document for this study
Birth gestational age between 27w0d-36w6d
Diagnosis of respiratory failure secondary to RDS requiring respiratory support with non-invasive positive pressure ventilation

Exclusion

Unable to obtain lung ultrasound between 1-2 hours of life
Infants already intubated or received surfactant before the point of care lung ultrasound
Infants born with congenital cardiac disease, congenital lung disease, or congenital facial/airway malformations
Infants born with chromosomal abnormalities
Infants with APGARs ≤ 5 at 10 minutes of life
Infants requiring cardiopulmonary resuscitation or therapeutic hypothermia in the first 6 hours of life

What this trial measures

  • Oxygen Saturation IndexAt 24 hours of life.

    (CPAP Level x FiO2)/(SpO2)