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Pulse oximetry in preterm infants
1Department of Paediatrics and Neonatal Medicine Hammersmith Hospital, London.
Archives of Disease in Childhood
|September 1, 1987
Summary
Transcutaneous oxygen saturation (Stcao2) in preterm infants with fetal hemoglobin generally correlates with arterial oxygen tension (Pao2). However, Stcao2 above 92% may not always indicate Pao2 above 13 kPa.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Medicine
- Respiratory Physiology
- Medical Devices
Background:
- Accurate monitoring of arterial oxygenation is critical for preterm infants.
- Transcutaneous pulse oximetry is a non-invasive method for assessing oxygen saturation.
- Preterm infants often have predominantly fetal hemoglobin, which can affect oxygen saturation measurements.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare transcutaneous arterial oxygen saturation (Stcao2) with direct arterial oxygen tension (Pao2) in preterm infants.
- To evaluate the correlation between Stcao2 and Pao2 in a specific neonatal population.
Main Methods:
- 125 measurements of Stcao2 were obtained using a transcutaneous pulse oximeter.
- These measurements were directly compared with simultaneous Pao2 values.
- The study included 13 preterm infants with predominantly fetal hemoglobin.
Main Results:
- A Stcao2 range of 86-92% corresponded to Pao2 values between 5-13 kPa.
- Stcao2 readings above 92% were sometimes associated with Pao2 values exceeding 13 kPa, indicating a potential discrepancy.
Conclusions:
- Transcutaneous oxygen saturation monitoring in preterm infants with fetal hemoglobin provides a useful estimate of arterial oxygen tension within a specific range.
- Clinicians should be aware that high Stcao2 values (>92%) may not consistently reflect Pao2 above 13 kPa in this population.