beractant: clinical use

Prescribing considerations

• Restrict use to neonatal settings with appropriate ventilation, resuscitation and monitoring facilities.
• Expect potentially rapid improvement in oxygenation and promptly reassess oxygen and ventilatory support.
• Interrupt administration if bradycardia or desaturation occurs; stabilise the infant before considering continuation.
• Use only for newborn populations and indications supported by the product licence.

Contraindications and cautions

• No specific contraindications were defined in clinical studies.
• Use requires caution where airway patency or cardiorespiratory stability cannot be maintained.

Monitoring

• Continuously monitor heart rate and oxygen saturation during administration.
• Monitor arterial blood gases, inspired oxygen and ventilatory requirements afterwards.
• Assess for pulmonary haemorrhage, intracranial haemorrhage and endotracheal-tube obstruction.

Clinical pharmacology

Beractant acts locally by lowering alveolar surface tension, improving lung compliance and stabilising alveoli against collapse. Classical plasma pharmacokinetic measures have not been studied because it is delivered directly to the lungs.

Formulation and product differences

• The selected product is a sterile intratracheal suspension derived from bovine lung extract with added phospholipids, fatty acids and triglyceride.
• It contains sodium and is supplied in single-use glass vials.
• Settling may occur during storage; gently invert before use and do not shake.
• Store refrigerated and protected from light; do not freeze or use artificial warming methods.

Oral suspension

Route: Oral

Strengths: 25 mg/mL