Closed loop automated oxygen control in neonates-A review.

Area of Science:

• Neonatal medicine
• Biomedical engineering
• Respiratory care

Background:

• Neonates often require supplemental oxygen, but maintaining optimal oxygen saturation is critical to prevent complications.
• Deviations from target oxygen saturation ranges can lead to adverse outcomes in newborns.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of algorithms in closed-loop automated oxygen control systems for neonates.
• To determine if these systems reduce long-term neonatal complications related to oxygen therapy.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search was performed using PubMed and Google Scholar.
• Included search terms were 'closed loop' or 'automat*', 'oxygen', and 'neonat*'.
• Reviewed sixteen comparison clinical studies, one observational study, and one animal study.

Main Results:

• Closed-loop systems increased the percentage of time spent within the target oxygen saturation range compared to manual control.
• Fewer manual adjustments to inspired oxygen concentration were observed with automated systems.
• Systems were effective in preterm infants on non-invasive or mechanical ventilation, but term-born infants were excluded.

Conclusions:

• Short-term trials demonstrate that closed-loop automated oxygen control improves target saturation achievement in preterm and low birth weight infants.
• The impact of these systems on reducing long-term oxygen toxicity complications requires further investigation.