Target Oxygen Saturation Among Preterm Neonates on Supplemental Oxygen Therapy: A Quality Improvement Study

Objective

To avoid excessive oxygen exposure and achieve target oxygen saturation (SpO₂) within intended range of 88%–95% among preterm neonates on oxygen therapy.

Methods

20 preterm neonates receiving supplemental oxygen in the first week of life were enrolled. The percentage of time per epoch (a consecutive time interval of 10 hours/day) spent by them within the target SpO₂ range was measured in phase 1 followed by implementation of a unit policy on oxygen administration and targeting in phase 2. In phase 3, oxygen saturation histograms constructed from pulse-oximeter data were used as daily feedback to nurses and compliance with oxygen-targeting was measured again.

Results

48 epochs in phase 1 and 69 in phase 3 were analyzed. The mean (SD) percent time spent within target SpO₂ range increased from 65.9% (21.4) to 76.5% (12.6) (P=0.001).

Conclusion

Effective implementation of oxygen targeting policy and feedback using oxygen saturation histograms may improve compliance with oxygen targeting.