Abstract
Background: Studies have shown that resuscitation of term infants using 21%O2 is as safe as 100% O2 and may be advantageous. There is a paucity of information available on the use of oxygen to resuscitate preterm infants. At Canberra Hospital, preterm infants have been resuscitated with 30% O2 and then targeted to SaO2 since 2004.
The aim of this study is to assess short-term outcomes of using less than 100% O2 for the resuscitation of preterm infants.
Method: Observational cohort study of 139 premature infants (24+0 to 31+6 weeks gestation). The control group comprises infants born in 2001-2003 resuscitated with 100% O2; the study group comprises infants born in 2005-2007 resuscitated with 30% O2 adjusted to reach SaO2 of 90% by 5 minutes. Main outcome measures: perinatal data (Apgar scores, duration of resuscitation) postnatal data (O2 and SaO2 on admission to NICU and at one hour; PaO2 at one hour), duration of respiratory support, chronic lung disease, necrotising enterocolitis, retinopathy of prematurity, IVH and mortality
Results: There was no difference between the groups in perinatal outcomes or SaO2. The O2 after admission to the NICU and the O2 and PaO2 at one hour were all significantly lower in study group. There were no differences in ongoing respiratory support requirements, disease states or mortality.
Conclusions: Using 30% O2 to commence resuscitation, and to then target O2 requirement to SaO2, seems as safe as 100% O2 for the resuscitation of premature infants.
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Kecskes, Z., Moore, P. Experience with using 30% O2 to Resuscitate Premature Infants. Pediatr Res 70 (Suppl 5), 130 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/pr.2011.355
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/pr.2011.355