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

Abstract

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. Neither of these ranges can be recommended, and wider intermediate targets, such as 87-94% or 88-94%, may be safer.

Keywords: Hyperoxia; Oximetry; Oxygen saturation; Premature infant; Retinopathy of prematurity.