Objective: To determine the rate and severity of short-and long-term morbidity in very low birth weight infants treated before and after the implementation of a change in clinical practice designed to avoid hyperoxia.Methods: Analysis of a prospectively collected database of all infants p1250 g

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.ConclusionSpO2 of 85–89% can increase mortality and 91–95% can cause hyperoxia and ill effects. Neither of these ranges can be recommended, and wider intermediate targets, such as 87–94% or 88–94%, may be safer.

High PaO(2) occurs very rarely in neonates breathing supplemental oxygen when their pulse oxygen saturation values are 85% to 93%. This pulse oxygen saturation range also is infrequently associated with low PaO(2) values. Pulse oxygen saturation values of >93% are frequently associated with PaO(2) values of >80 mmHg, which may be of risk for some newborns receiving supplemental oxygen.

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. Neonatal exposure to pure O2, even if brief, or to pulse oximetry >95% when breathing supplemental O2 must be avoided as much as possible.

AimTo identify whether pulse oximetry technology is associated with decreased retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and laser treatment.MethodsInborn 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. In Period 2, guidelines for SpO2 88–93% were implemented at both centres and Centre B changed to oximeters with signal extraction technology (SET®) while Centre A did not, but did so in Period 3. One ophthalmology department performed eye exams using international criteria.ResultsIn 571 newborns <1250 g, birth weight and gestational age were similar in the different periods and centres. At Centre A, severe ROP and need for laser remained the same in Periods 1 and 2, decreasing in Period 3–6% and 3%, respectively. At Centre B, severe ROP decreased from 12% (Period 1) to 5% (Period 2) and need for laser decreased from 5% to 3%, remaining low in Period 3.ConclusionIn a large group of inborn infants <1250 g, a change in clinical practice in combination with pulse oximetry with Masimo SET, but not without it, led to significant reduction in severe ROP and need for laser therapy. Pulse oximetry selection is important in managing critically ill infants.