For therapy of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in premature babies, there are several established options. An important therapeutic aspect is the tracheal administration of exogenous surfactant into the child's lung.

In the recent years, several methods have been developed. The methods differ in the selected ventilation mode (intubation with mechanical ventilation vs. Continous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)-supported spontaneous breathing) and in the way in which the application of surfactant is technically conducted (via endotracheal tube, endotracheal catheter or nebulization).

In selection of ventilation technique, there is an upcoming trend towards less invasive respiratory support via CPAP. While this may increase the rate of complications on the one side (i.e. pneumothorax), it shows much lower oxygen demand and a shorter need for mechanical ventilation on the other side.

In the selection of the administration technique, different methods were repeatedly developed to adapt the surfactant administration to the CPAP therapy. In this study, a newly developed and in the European Community now certified (CE-Mark) application aid (Neofact) will be tested for the first time on preterm infants, to verify the feasibility.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome and the need for Surfactant administration (oxygen requirement with FiO2 ≥ 30% and/or mod. Silverman Andersen Respiratory Severity Score (RSS) ≥ 5)
• Respiratory support with non-invasive CPAP at the time of Surfactant administration

Exclusion Criteria:

• Preterms with an gestational age < 26+0 weeks
• Preterms with malformations of the respiratory tract
• Clinical decision on intubation / surfactant application via endotracheal tube e.g. because of respiratory drive disorder
• (Missing parental consent)
• (Attending physician is not delegated by the principal investigator)