Antenatal injection betamethasone- A fetal lung warrior

Abstract

One of the most frequent causes of neonatal mortality or NICU admission of neonates especially in premature infants is Neonatal Respiratory Distress Syndrome (NRDS). Antenatal steroids are the most important and widely utilized interventions for improvement of neonatal outcomes like reducing incidence of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), reducing neonatal NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) admission rates and also improve outcomes of pre-term infants. Antenatal steroids (ANS) like betamethasone 12 mg are given at 24 hourly IM at 28-34 weeks of gestation to mother. For administration of corticosteroids at less than 24 weeks of gestational age decision should be made at a senior level by taking all clinical aspects into consideration.To observe the effect of Betamethasone administration IM in pregnant women at risk of pre-term delivery and fetal outcomes in terms of development of Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS) and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) admission rate by giving it between 28 to 34 weeks of gestation. Antenatal corticosteroids (betamethasone) play an important role for prevention of respiratory distress syndrome and reducing NICU admission rate of new borns and also reduce neonatal mortality and morbidity but benefits related to the time between administration of corticosteroid and delivery needed to be explored. Benefits of the injection betamethasone administration IM 12 mg between 24 hours and seven days on pre-term delivery has been established., This was prospective study conducted in private setup from November 2020 to March 2021 in Scientific Research Institute, Surendranagar, Gujarat, India. Study comprised of 100 women with single tone pregnancies (28 – 36 weeks gestational age) in age group of 19 – 33 years not in labour, but at risk for pre-term delivery based on fetal or maternal indications. These pregnant women were treated with two doses of 12 mg Betamethasone Intramuscularly apart of 24 hourly for maturation of fetal lungs. Antenatal corticosteroids like betamethasone have a significant benefit on neonatal outcome even if used after 34 weeks of pregnancy. This was given prophylactically to those who are known to have increased risk of pre-term labour. Antenatal steroid like betamethasone 12 mg IM is also of benefit to reduce neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (NRDS) and NICU admission rates by giving it at 28-34 weeks of gestational age.