Survanta (beractant)

Survanta (beractant) Intratracheal Suspension is a pulmonary surfactant made from animal lung extract and is used to treat or prevent respiratory distress syndrome in newborn infants.

Common side effects of Survanta include:

• noisy breathing,
• feeding or bowel problems, or
• bleeding around the endotracheal tube.

Tell your child's doctor if the child has serious side effects of Survanta including:

• pale skin,
• slow heartbeat,
• breathing that stops (apnea),
• urinating less than usual, or
• blood in the urine.

Important Administration Instructions

• For intratracheal administration  (given via needle or catheter inserted into the throat) only.
• Survanta should be administered by or under the supervision of clinicians experienced in intubation, ventilator management, and general care of premature infants. The administration of Survanta is facilitated if one person administers the dose while another person positions and monitors the infant.
• Before administering Survanta, assure proper placement and patency of the endotracheal tube. At the discretion of the clinician, the endotracheal tube may be suctioned before administering Survanta. The infant should be allowed to stabilize before proceeding with dosing.
• Administer Survanta intratracheally by instillation through a 5 French end-hole catheter.

Recommended Dosage

• Each dose of Survanta is 100 mg of phospholipids/kg birth weight (4 mL/kg).
• In the prevention strategy, in premature infants with evidence of surfactant deficiency, give the first dose of Survanta as soon as possible, preferably within 15 minutes of birth.
• To treat infants with RDS confirmed by radiographic and clinical findings, give the first dose of Survanta as soon as possible, preferably by 8 hours of age.
• Four doses of Survanta can be administered in the first 48 hours of life.
• Doses should be given no more frequently than every 6 hours.
• The need for additional doses of Survanta is determined by evidence of continuing respiratory distress. Radiographic confirmation of RDS should be obtained before administering additional doses to those who received a prevention dose.

Survanta is indicated for use in premature infants, and there is no safety information available for pregnant or nursing women.