Safe oxygen saturation targeting and monitoring in preterm infants: can we avoid hypoxia and hyperoxia?

Unlabelled: Oxygen is a neonatal health hazard that should be avoided in clinical practice. In this review, an international team of neonatologists and nurses assessed oxygen saturation (SpO2 ) targeting in preterm infants and evaluated the potential weaknesses of randomised clinical trials.

Conclusion: SpO2 of 85-89% can increase mortality and 91-95% can cause hyperoxia and ill effects.

Prevention of retinopathy of prematurity in preterm infants through changes in clinical practice and SpO₂technology.

Aim: To identify whether pulse oximetry technology is associated with decreased retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and laser treatment.

Methods: Inborn infants <1250 g who had eye exams were compared at two centres in three periods. In Period 1, SpO₂ target was ≥93% and pulse oximetry technology was the same in both Centres.

Pulse oxygen saturation levels and arterial oxygen tension values in newborns receiving oxygen therapy in the neonatal intensive care unit: is 85% to 93% an acceptable range?

Objective: Our aim was to define the relationship of PaO(2) and pulse oxygen saturation values during routine clinical practice and to evaluate whether pulse oxygen saturation values between 85% and 93% were associated with PaO(2) levels of <40 mmHg.

Methods: Prospective comparison of PaO(2) and pulse oxygen saturation values in 7 NICUs at sea level in 2 countries was performed. The PaO(2) measurements were obtained from indwelling arterial catheters; simultaneous pulse oxygen saturation values were recorded if the pulse oxygen saturation values changed <1% before, during, and after the arterial gas sample was obtained.

Treatment-by-gender effect when aiming to avoid hyperoxia in preterm infants in the NICU.

Objective: To examine gender-specific differences in response to the O(2) saturation (SpO(2)) targets aimed at avoiding hyperoxia in very low birth weight infants (VLBW).

Methods: Analysis of a prospectively collected database of all infants View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Oxygen as a neonatal health hazard: call for détente in clinical practice.

Unlabelled: Education in oxygenation and in how oxygen is given to newborns needs to increase. Treatment with oxygen should no longer be considered proverbial and customary, regardless of our 'past experience' or consensus recommendations in clinical guidelines, since oxygen may lead to acute or chronic health effects.

Conclusion: Inappropriate oxygen use is a neonatal health hazard associated with aging, DNA damage and cancer, retinopathy of prematurity, injury to the developing brain, infection and others.

The impact of vaginal delivery in premature infants weighing less than 1,251 grams.

Objective: To evaluate whether mode of delivery is a predictor of poor short-term outcome at different birth weight categories in very low birth weight infants.

Methods: This study examined a cohort of infants weighing less than 1,251 g born at 2 perinatal centers from January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2003. Outborn infants or those with major anomalies were excluded from the study.