Effect of fluctuation of oxygenation and time spent in the target range on retinopathy of prematurity in extremely low birth weight infants.
BACKGROUND
The association between saturation of peripheral oxygenation (SpO2) fluctuation and severity of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is well elucidated in extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants. Time spent in the Target range of SpO2 is also associated with the severity of ROP.


METHODS
In a prospective observational study, the SpO2 of all ELBW infants admitted to our unit were monitored for the first four weeks of life, and averaged every minute for analysis. The percent time spent at SpO2 <90%, 90-95%, and >95% and weekly SpO2 fluctuations [as SpO2 coefficient of variation (CoV)] were calculated.


RESULTS
During the study period 21 infants had moderate to severe ROP and 35 infants served as controls. Infants with moderate to severe ROP were smaller and younger than their controls [676±124 grams vs. 796±148 grams (p < 0.001); and 24.0±1.0 weeks vs. 25.0±1.7 weeks (p < 0.001) respectively]. There were no significant differences in time spent in the 90-95% range between groups (p = 0.66). However there was a significant increase in weekly SpO2 CoV in infants with moderate to severe ROP vs. controls (p = 0.007).


CONCLUSION
In ELBW infants, there was an association between SpO2 fluctuation during the first four weeks of life and severity of ROP, although, no association was established with time spent in the target range of SpO2.
['Das|A|A|', 'Mhanna|M|M|', 'Sears|J|J|', 'Houdek|J W|JW|', 'Kumar|N|N|', 'Gunzler|D|D|', 'Einstadter|D|D|', 'Collin|M|M|']
D005260:Female D006801:Humans D007223:Infant D052577:Infant, Extremely Low Birth Weight D007231:Infant, Newborn D007234:Infant, Premature D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal D008297:Male D010092:Oximetry D010100:Oxygen D010102:Oxygen Inhalation Therapy D011446:Prospective Studies D012178:Retinopathy of Prematurity D012307:Risk Factors D016896:Treatment Outcome
fluctuation Retinopathy of prematurity prematurity saturation of peripheral oxygen target oxygen saturation