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.
© 2014 The Authors. Acta Paediatrica published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Foundation Acta Paediatrica.