Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 21, 2026

Clinical Practice Protocol of Creative Music Therapy for Preterm Infants and Their Parents in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
11:50

Clinical Practice Protocol of Creative Music Therapy for Preterm Infants and Their Parents in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Published on: January 7, 2020

27.5K

Oxygen Therapy and Pulmonary Hypertension in Preterm Infants

Samuel J Gentle1, Steven H Abman2, Namasivayam Ambalavanan1

  • 1The University of Alabama at Birmingham, 176F Suite 9390F, Women and Infants Center, 619 South 20th St., Birmingham, AL 35233, USA.

Clinics in Perinatology
|July 27, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Optimizing oxygen saturation targets in extremely preterm infants is crucial for improving outcomes and preventing complications like pulmonary hypertension. Further research is needed to establish precise targets for managing this condition.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal Medicine
  • Pediatric Pulmonology
  • Critical Care

Background:

  • Oxygen therapy and saturation targeting in extremely preterm infants aim to balance risks of hypoxemia and hyperoxemia.
  • The NeOProM trials investigated the impact of low versus high oxygen saturation targets on major outcomes in extreme prematurity.
  • However, these trials did not specifically assess pulmonary hypertension in infants.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight the gap in evidence regarding optimal oxygen saturation targets for preventing and managing pulmonary hypertension in extremely preterm infants.
  • To emphasize the need for further research in this specific area.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature and clinical trial data (NeOProM trials).
  • Analysis of outcomes related to oxygen saturation levels in extremely preterm infants.
  • Identification of limitations in current evidence concerning pulmonary hypertension.

Main Results:

  • The NeOProM trials provided data on death and co-morbidities but excluded pulmonary hypertension assessment.
  • Current evidence is insufficient to guide optimal oxygen saturation targets for pulmonary hypertension in this population.

Conclusions:

  • There is a significant lack of evidence on optimal oxygen saturation targets for preventing and managing pulmonary hypertension in extremely preterm infants.
  • Further dedicated studies are required to address this critical knowledge gap and improve infant care.

Keywords:
Bronchopulmonary dysplasiaBronchopulmonary-associated pulmonary hypertensionExtremely prematureInfantInfant mortalityOxygen

More Related Videos

Evaluation of Right Ventricular Function in Experimental Models of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension10:03

Evaluation of Right Ventricular Function in Experimental Models of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Published on: June 27, 2025

740
Development of a Neonatal Piglet Acute Lung Injury Model Recreating the Early Environment of Preterm Infant Lungs08:58

Development of a Neonatal Piglet Acute Lung Injury Model Recreating the Early Environment of Preterm Infant Lungs

Published on: October 31, 2025

576

Related Concept Videos

Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Oxygen Therapy for Respiratory Failure01:16

Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Oxygen Therapy for Respiratory Failure

Oxygen therapy has emerged as a significant tool in enhancing the quality of life for patients suffering from pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). While this therapy has principally been studied on patients with significant hypoxemia, this therapeutic approach helps prevent potential organ damage and can be administered in the comfort of one's home.
Oxygen therapy is vital in increasing and maintaining blood oxygen levels in PAH patients. As a result, it aids in reducing fatigue,...
596
Pulmonary Hypertension: Classification and Pathogenesis01:30

Pulmonary Hypertension: Classification and Pathogenesis

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a severe health condition in which the mean pulmonary arterial pressure increases to 25 mmHg or more, even when the body is at rest. This high pressure in the blood vessels that transport blood from the heart to the lungs can cause various symptoms, including shortness of breath, can lead to right heart failure, and significantly affect the overall quality of life.
There are various classifications for PH, each relating to different underlying causes and also...
591
Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors01:28

Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors

Phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) inhibitors are potent enzymes that function to hydrolyze cyclic nucleotides to their corresponding 5' monophosphates. Their unique biochemical properties have been applied in treating Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH).
Among the PDE5 inhibitors, sildenafil (Revatio) stands out as a competitive and selective inhibitor. It operates by elevating cellular levels of cGMP and augmenting signaling through the cGMP-PKG pathway, promoting vasodilation. Upon oral...
577
Hypertension IV: Drug Therapy and Lifestyle Modifications01:28

Hypertension IV: Drug Therapy and Lifestyle Modifications

Multiple classes of antihypertensive medications are employed in treating hypertension. The most commonly recommended first-line treatments include:Thiazide Diuretics, such as chlorthalidone, increase sodium and water excretion from the body, reducing blood volume and blood pressure.Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, like lisinopril, block the conversion of angiotensin I to II, a potent vasoconstrictor lowering blood pressure.Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers (ARBs) prevent angiotensin II...
632
Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Endothelin Receptor Antagonists01:18

Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Endothelin Receptor Antagonists

Endothelins (ETs) are potent vasoactive peptides critical in the human body's various physiological and pathological processes. One of the most promising therapeutic strategies for treating pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) involves counteracting the effects of these endothelins using a class of drugs known as endothelin receptor antagonists.
ETs are synthesized through a complex sequence of enzymatic steps, primarily involving an enzyme referred to as endothelin-converting enzyme...
443
Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Prostacyclin Receptor Agonists01:23

Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Prostacyclin Receptor Agonists

Prostacyclin receptor agonists are a class of therapeutic agents integral to managing pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). These drugs operate by mimicking the action of prostaglandin I2, or PGI2, a naturally occurring compound in the body.
These agonists bind to the IPR receptor situated on the plasma membrane of the pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells. This binding triggers a cascade of reactions known as the GS-AC-cAMP-PKA pathway. This pathway results in the relaxation of smooth muscle...
472