A randomised crossover trial of closed loop automated oxygen control in preterm, ventilated infants

To determine whether closed loop automated oxygen control resulted in a reduction in the duration and severity of desaturation episodes and the number of blood gases and chest radiographs in preterm, ventilated infants.

Infants were studied on two consecutive days for 12 hours on each day. They were randomised to receive standard care (standard period) or standard care with a closed loop automated oxygen control system (automated oxygen control period) first.

Twenty-four infants with a median gestational age of 25.7 (range 23.1-32.6) weeks were studied at a median postconceptional age of 27.4 (range 24.3-34.9) weeks. During the automated oxygen control period, there were fewer desaturations that lasted >30 seconds (P = .032) or >60 seconds (P = .002), infants spent a higher proportion of the time within their target SpO₂ range during the automated oxygen control period (P < .001), and fewer manual adjustments were made to the inspired oxygen concentration (mean 0.58 vs mean 11.29) (P < .001). There were no significant differences in the number of blood gases (P = .872) or chest radiographs (P = .366) between the two periods.

Closed loop automated oxygen delivery resulted in fewer prolonged desaturations with more time spent in the targeted oxygen range.