Trial Information

Does administration of intra-tracheal budesonide during the early treatment of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in extremely preterm infants increase survival without bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) at 36 weeks’ postmenstrual age (PMA)?

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a chronic inflammatory lung disease characterised by disordered alveolar and vascular development, most commonly affecting extremely preterm infants exposed to mechanical ventilation and oxygen therapy for RDS.  BPD is associated with mortality, and adverse long-term pulmonary and neurodevelopmental outcomes. Despite advances in neonatal care including antenatal corticosteroids, exogenous surfactant, and the increasing use of non-invasive respiratory support, the incidence of BPD has increased in the state of Victoria in 2005 compared with earlier eras.

The PLUSS Trial team includes teams of researchers from 18 hospitals and institutes across Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Canada, all of whom are leaders in neonatal medicine. The researchers are all supported by the Trial Management Team based at the Royal Women's Hospital in Melbourne, the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI), Australia’s leading paediatric research institute and MCRI’s Melbourne Children’s Trials Centre (MCTC).