- Title
- Targeted oxygen therapy in special care nurseries: is uniformity a good thing?
- Creator
- Buckmaster, Adam; Arnolda, Gaston; Wright, Ian; Foster, Jann
- Relation
- Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health Vol. 48, Issue 6, p. 476-482
- Publisher Link
- http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-1754.2011.02220.x
- Publisher
- Wiley-Blackwell Publishing
- Resource Type
- journal article
- Date
- 2012
- Description
- Aim: There is wide variation in the commencement of inspired oxygen (FiO2) and the oxygen saturation (SpO₂) targets set in special care nurseries (SCNs). Evidence supports minimising unnecessary oxygen exposure. Does the introduction of a protocol advocating the uniform approach of commencing FiO2 at 30% and targeting SpO2 of 94–96% for infants ≥33 weeks gestation with respiratory distress reduce oxygen exposure? Methods: A ‘Before After’ study was undertaken in three SCNs. Data were recorded for all infants admitted to the SCNs who required oxygen over a 3-year period. Infants were analysed in gestational age groups: 33–36 weeks (late preterm) and +37 weeks (term/post-term). Results: Of the 19 830 infants born, 868 (4%) were treated with oxygen. The introduction of an oxygen-targeting protocol resulted in a statistically and clinically significant reduction in the proportion of infants who were treated with any oxygen for 1 h or more, 4 h or more and in the proportion who received >30% FiO2 for 1 h or more (all ≤ 0.01). This reduction was significant for infants of both gestational age groups. The median duration of oxygen for term/post-term infants was reduced from 12 h pre-protocol to 10 h post-protocol (P= 0.01); however, no significant difference was found for the preterm group (reduced from 11 to 8 h, P= 0.07). Conclusion: Introduction of a uniform oxygen protocol in SCNs for infants ≥33 weeks gestation with respiratory distress reduces the number of infants receiving oxygen and, in term infants, the duration of oxygen exposure.
- Subject
- infant; neonatal; newborn; practice guidelines; respiratory distress; term birth
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/1340450
- Identifier
- uon:28483
- Identifier
- ISSN:1034-4810
- Language
- eng
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