Beractant

Marked improvements in lung oxygenation and compliance may occur within minutes of administration; frequent and appropriate adjustments to oxygen delivery and ventilator settings may be required to avoid hyperoxia. Premature neonates. Use of beractant in neonates <600 g or >1,750 g birth weight has not been evaluated in controlled clinical trials.

Significant: Transient bradycardia and oxygen desaturation; increased risk of nosocomial sepsis (post-treatment); transient rales and moist breath sounds; endotracheal tube obstruction by mucous secretions.
General disorders and administration site conditions: Rarely, pallor.
Nervous system disorders: Intracranial haemorrhage.
Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders: Pulmonary haemorrhage. Rarely, hypocapnia, hypercapnia, apnoea, endotracheal tube reflux.
Vascular disorders: Rarely, hypertension, hypotension, vasoconstriction.

Closely monitor continuous ECG and arterial or transcutaneous systemic oxygen and carbon dioxide (CO₂) measurements during administration; arterial blood gases after administration.

Description:
Mechanism of Action: Beractant, an exogenous pulmonary surfactant, is a modified bovine lung extract containing mainly phospholipids. It replaces deficient or ineffective endogenous lung surfactant in neonates with or at risk of developing respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). Beractant acts by reducing the surface tension between air and alveolar surfaces, thereby stabilising the alveoli against collapse during respiration and increasing alveolar ventilation.
Onset: Improved oxygenation: Within minutes.
Pharmacokinetics:
Distribution: Rapidly distributes to the alveolar surfaces.

Store between 2-8°C. Do not freeze. Protect from light. Do not shake. Recommendations on the stability and storage of unopened vials once warmed may vary between countries. Refer to detailed product guidelines.

Other Drugs Acting on the Respiratory System

Anon. Beractant (Pediatric and Neonatal Lexi-Drugs). Lexicomp Online. Hudson, Ohio. Wolters Kluwer Clinical Drug Information, Inc. https://online.lexi.com. Accessed 08/05/2023.

Anon. Beractant. AHFS Clinical Drug Information [online]. Bethesda, MD. American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc. https://www.ahfscdi.com. Accessed 24/05/2023.

Beractant. Gold Standard Drug Database in ClinicalKey [online]. Elsevier Inc. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed 24/05/2023.

Buckingham R (ed). Pulmonary Surfactants. Martindale: The Complete Drug Reference [online]. London. Pharmaceutical Press. https://www.medicinescomplete.com. Accessed 08/05/2023.

Paediatric Formulary Committee. Beractant. BNF for Children [online]. London. BMJ Group, Pharmaceutical Press, and RCPCH Publications. https://www.medicinescomplete.com. Accessed 08/05/2023.

Survanta 25 mg/mL Suspension (AbbVie Ltd.). MHRA. https://products.mhra.gov.uk. Accessed 08/05/2023.

Survanta Intratracheal Suspension (AbbVie Sdn Bhd). National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency - Ministry of Health Malaysia. https://www.npra.gov.my. Accessed 24/05/2023.

Survanta Suspension (AbbVie Inc.). DailyMed. Source: U.S. National Library of Medicine. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed. Accessed 08/05/2023.