INTRODUCING QUALITY IMPROVEMENT TECHNIQUES TO MINIMIZE TIME AND ITS VARIATIONS FOR SURFACTANT REPLACEMENT THERAPY IN PRETERM INFANTS

Abstract

In India, neonatal and perinatal outcomes exhibit significant variation, with some units achieving excellent results while others experience higher mortality and morbidity rates. Premature infants suffering from surfactant insufficiency due to poor lung development often develop respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), which can lead to acute pulmonary injury, neonatal death, or chronic lung disease if not promptly addressed with surfactant administration and assisted ventilation. This study investigates a quality improvement program implemented in intensive care settings to reduce surfactant receipt time and address key bottlenecks, ultimately improving neonatal survival. The objective is to assess the impact of timely surfactant administration through systematic quality improvement steps. The methodology involves three phases: observation to identify issues causing delays, three intervention cycles targeting enhanced communication, NICU preparation, prompt referral, and an evaluation phase to measure progress. Results show a significant reduction in surfactant receipt time after the interventions, demonstrating the positive impact of the Quality Improvement Program on neonatal health and outcomes. In conclusion, this study highlights the potential for other intensive care settings to adapt to similar changes, emphasizing training and sensitization of team members and a commitment to improvement to enhance neonatal survival.