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What should I discuss with my health care provider before my child receives beractant (Survanta Intratracheal)?

Your child will require special care in the hospital during treatment for RDS. Talk with your doctor about any special instructions for handling the infant and watching for side effects while beractant is given.

How is beractant given (Survanta Intratracheal)?

Beractant is given within minutes or hours after the infant is born. The medication must be given in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), a specialized setting for premature babies or newborns who need special care.

This medication is given through an endotracheal (en-doe-TRAY-kee-al) tube. This is a flexible plastic tube placed in the infant's mouth and passed down into the airway. A doctor will insert the tube using a scope to see the inside of the airway while guiding the tube into place.

Beractant is usually given every 6 hours.

To make sure this medication is helping your child's condition and is not causing any harmful effects, your child's lung function will need to be tested often. This will help your doctor determine how long to continue treatment with beractant. Your child may also need blood tests.

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