Variability in Practice and Implementation of Oxygen Target Saturation Policies in United States' Neonatal Intensive Care Units

Abstract

Objective This study aimed to describe target oxygen saturation (SpO₂) ranges used for premature infants in United States' neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) and to describe if these target SpO₂ ranges have changed in recent years.

Study Design A 29-question survey focused on target SpO₂ practices and policies was distributed via the NICU medical directors listservs for the American Academy of Pediatrics Section of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine and Pediatrix Medical Group between August and October of 2021. Results were collected via Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap).

Results We received responses representing 170 unique, levels 2, 3, and 4 NICUs from 36 states. Most NICUs (130, 78%) have recently changed their SpO₂ targets in response to target SpO₂ clinical trials. Over time, the most commonly reported target SpO₂ range has shifted from 88–92% to 90–95. Of NICUs that changed limits, the most common lower SpO₂ limits increased from 88 to 90% and the upper SpO₂ limits changed from 92 to 95%. The interquartile range for lower SpO₂ limit shifted from 85–88% to 88–90% and the IQR for upper SpO₂ limit decreased from 92–95 to 94–95%. Most NICUs had designated conditions that would allow for deviations from standard target SpO₂ ranges. These most commonly include pulmonary hypertension (152, 95%), severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia (81, 51%), and retinopathy of prematurity (51, 32%).

Conclusion Oxygen saturation limits have changed over time with an overall increase in targeted SpO₂. However, there remains considerable interunit variation in SpO₂ policies. There is a need to achieve consensus to optimize clinical outcomes.

Key Points

• What are the SpO₂ ranges in United States' NICUs?

• There is a shift in SpO₂ ranges for preterm infants in NICUs across United States.

• Variability still persists in SpO₂ ranges for preterm infants in United States' NICUs.

Keywords

oxygen saturation - oxygen target saturation ranges - alarm limits - retinopathy of prematurity

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