Pulse oximetry signal loss during hypoxic episodes in preterm infants receiving automated oxygen control
摘要
The aim of this study was to analyze signal loss (SL) resulting from low signal quality of pulse oximetry-derived hemoglobin oxygen saturation (SpO2) measurements during prolonged hypoxemic episodes (pHE) in very preterm infants receiving automatic oxygen control (AOC). We did a post hoc analysis of a randomized crossover study of AOC, programmed to set FiO2 to “back-up FiO2” during SL. In 24 preterm infants (median (interquartile range)) gestational age 25.3 (24.6 to 25.6) weeks, recording time 12.7 h (12.2 to 13.6 h) per infant, we identified 76 pHEs (median duration 119 s (86 to 180 s)). In 50 (66%) pHEs, SL occurred for a median duration of 51 s (33 to 85 s) and at a median frequency of 2 (1 to 2) SL-periods per pHE. SpO2 before and after SL was similar (82% (76 to 88%) vs 82% (76 to 87%), p = 0.3)).
Conclusion: SL is common during pHE and must hence be considered in AOC-algorithm designs. Administering a “backup FiO2” (which reflects FiO2-requirements during normoxemia) during SL may prolong pHE with SL.
Trial registration: The study was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov under the registration no. NCT03785899.