22 Feb 2023 • For the first time in India, a 36-week-old female baby underwent the SALSA (Surfactant Administration via Laryngeal mask Supraglottic Airway) procedure at the Department of Neonatology at a private hospital in Delhi. This case report has been published in the most recent issue of the journal, Current Medicine Research and Practice. The mainstay of treatment for preterm newborns with respiratory distress syndrome has been surfactant therapy. A unique liquid is injected into the undeveloped lungs of newly born premature newborns who are having trouble breathing as part of surfactant therapy. The most popular method for delivering surfactant has been endotracheal intubation. Endotracheal intubation, however, has two main drawbacks: first, it calls for special training, and second, it can lead to complications. A higher chance of developing chronic pulmonary disease is also present. There have been several reports in recent months about the usage of this technology to transport surfactants globally. "We report the first case from India of administration of surfactant through the laryngeal mask or supraglottic airway (SALSA), which is a minimally invasive approach of delivering surfactant," stated a senior consultant with the department of neonatology at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital. He also said that the skills required for SALSA are meagre compared to the expertise needed for intubation.

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