Frequency and duration of extreme hypoxemic and hyperoxemic episodes during manual and automatic oxygen control in preterm infants: a retrospective cohort analysis from randomized studies

Abstract

Abstract Objective Neonatal exposure to episodic hypoxemia and hyperoxemia is highly relevant to outcomes. Our goal was to investigate the differences in the frequency and duration of extreme low and high SpO2 episodes between automated and manual inspired oxygen control. Design Post-hoc analysis of a cohort from prospective randomized cross-over studies. Setting Seven tertiary care neonatal intensive care units. Patients Fifty-eight very preterm neonates (32 or less weeks PMA) receiving respiratory support and supplemental oxygen participating in an automated versus manual oxygen control cross-over trial. Main measures Extreme hypoxemia was defined as a SpO2 98%. Episode duration was categorized as 98% SpO2) was seen in the episodes of at least 60 seconds. Conclusions This study shows that the majority of episodes preterm infants spent in SpO2 extremes are of short duration regardless of manual or automated control. However, the infrequent longer episodes not only contribute the most to the total exposure, but also their reduction in frequency to the improvement associated with automated control.

Keywords

• Oxygen saturation
• Neonatology
• Hypoxemic episodes
• Hyperoxemia episodes