Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41327430›Full record

ArticleTrials2025

SurfON trial: study protocol for a multicentre, open-label, randomised controlled trial of early surfactant therapy versus expectant management in late preterm and early term infants with respiratory distress.

Elaine M Boyle, Vasha Bari, Peter J Bradley, Marie Hubbard, Edmund Juszczak, Benjamin Stenson, David G Sweet, Ursula Bowler, Christina Cole, Pollyanna Hardy and 10 more

Abstract readClinical Trial Protocol
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Trials, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Short-term outcomes associated with surfactant use in respiratory distress in late preterm to early term infants.Journal of perinatology : official journal of the California Perinatal Association · 2026
    Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

20 authors.

Elaine M BoyleDepartment of Population Health Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, LE1 7RH, UK. eb124@leicester.ac.uk.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5038-3148
Vasha BariNational Perinatal Epidemiology Unit Clinical Trials Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus, Oxford, UK.
Peter J BradleyBliss, 1 st Floor North, 10-18 Union Street, London, SE1 1SZ, UK.
Marie HubbardNeonatal Service, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Leicester, LE5 4PW, UK.
Edmund JuszczakNottingham Clinical Trials Unit, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK.
Benjamin StensonNHS Lothian, Edinburgh, EH1 3EG, UK.
David G SweetRegional Neonatal Unit, Royal Maternity Hospital, Belfast, BT12 6BB, UK.
Ursula BowlerNational Perinatal Epidemiology Unit Clinical Trials Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus, Oxford, UK.
Christina ColeNational Perinatal Epidemiology Unit Clinical Trials Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus, Oxford, UK.
Pollyanna HardyNational Perinatal Epidemiology Unit Clinical Trials Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus, Oxford, UK.
Andrew KingNational Perinatal Epidemiology Unit Clinical Trials Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus, Oxford, UK.
Louise LinsellNational Perinatal Epidemiology Unit Clinical Trials Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus, Oxford, UK.
Indrani ManoharanNational Perinatal Epidemiology Unit Clinical Trials Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus, Oxford, UK.
David MurrayNational Perinatal Epidemiology Unit Clinical Trials Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus, Oxford, UK.
Heather M O'ConnorNational Perinatal Epidemiology Unit Clinical Trials Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus, Oxford, UK.
Oliver Rivero-AriasNational Perinatal Epidemiology Unit Clinical Trials Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus, Oxford, UK.
Charles RoehrNational Perinatal Epidemiology Unit Clinical Trials Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus, Oxford, UK.
Kayleigh StanburyNational Perinatal Epidemiology Unit Clinical Trials Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus, Oxford, UK.
Richard WelshNational Perinatal Epidemiology Unit Clinical Trials Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus, Oxford, UK.
Joy WilesNational Perinatal Epidemiology Unit Clinical Trials Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus, Oxford, UK.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundLate preterm and early term infants are a large proportion of all births. Historically, outcomes were thought to be similar to those of full term infants, but recent evidence demonstrates worse outcomes. Although serious morbidity is less common than in very preterm infants, the impact of modest illness in large numbers of more mature neonates is significant, with 30-40% requiring neonatal unit (NNU) admission, primarily for respiratory disease. The SurfON trial aims to evaluate whether early surfactant therapy improves outcomes compared with expectant management in late preterm and early term infants with respiratory distress. The primary objectives are to compare neonatal hospital stay and incidence of severe respiratory failure, with secondary objectives assessing other perinatal outcomes and cost-effectiveness.

methodsThe SurfON trial is a multicentre, open-label, randomised controlled trial involving 45 UK NNUs, aiming to recruit 1522 infants over 30 months. Eligible infants are those born at 34 DISCUSSION: Evidence-based guidance for the management of late preterm and early term infants is sparse, and no previous large randomised controlled trials have focused on this population. Management of respiratory distress in late preterm and early term infants varies. Some clinicians prefer early surfactant administration to prevent deterioration-78others delay treatment to avoid mechanical ventilation. This inconsistency highlights the need for trials to establish an evidence base. Unexpected neonatal morbidity and prolonged hospitalisation cause significant psychological distress for families, impacting breastfeeding and maternal well-being. High intensive care workload and associated costs pose challenges for the NHS (National Health Service). Evidence-based management could improve outcomes and reduce healthcare burdens.

trial registrationISRCTN 15915394. Registered on 20th February 2020 https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN15915394 .

Indexed as

Pulmonary SurfactantsRespiratory Distress Syndrome, NewbornWatchful WaitingAge FactorsCost-Benefit AnalysisFemaleGestational AgeHumansInfant, NewbornInfant, PrematureLength of StayMaleMulticenter Studies as TopicRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicTime FactorsTreatment OutcomePulmonary SurfactantsEarly term birthLate preterm birthRespiratory distressSurfactant therapy

Identifiers

PMID41327430
PMCPMC12777448

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.