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Updated: Jul 2, 2026

A Model to Simulate Clinically Relevant Hypoxia in Humans
Published on: December 22, 2016
[Oxygen peripheral saturation using pulse oxymetry among healthy term newborns at Mexico's altitude (2240 m)]
Carlos Antonio Tapia-Rombo1, María Guadalupe Isabel Rosales-Cervantes, Víctor Joel Saucedo-Zavala
1Servicio de Neonatología, Hospital General Dr. Gaudencio González Garza Unidad Médica de Alta Especialidad, México D.F., México. tapiachar@yahoo.com.mx
Background:
Oxygen peripheral saturation (SpO2) is crucial for an adequate management of critically-ill newborns infants (NB). The objective of the present study was to determine SpO2 by pulse oxymetry among healthy term and preterm NBs at an altitude of 2240 m above sea level.
Methods:
Observational, cross-sectional and comparative. 218 NBs were prospectively studied between January to April 2004. Eighty nine were term and 128 were preterm. Alpha levels were set at p<0.05.
Results:
The recorded lower value for SpO2 was 88%, and the maximum was 99%. We observed a significant SpO2 difference among the term NB (93.5+/-2%) and preterm NBs (92.9+/-2%), p=0.01.
Conclusions:
SpO2 in Mexico City's altitude is on average lower when compared to that observed at sea level. In general with a minimum and maximum values found in our study the SpO2 needed to maintain a critically sick NB with supplementary O2, is suggested. Values should be kept at between 88% and 94% to avoid hypoxemia and hyperoxemia.
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