OBJECTIVE: Describe the likelihood of hypoxemia and hyperoxemia across ranges of oxygen saturation (SpO2), during mechanical ventilation with supplemental oxygenation. DESIGN: Retrospective observational study. SETTING: University affiliated tertiary care neonatal intensive care unit. PATIENTS: Two groups of neonates based on postmenstrual age (PMA): <32 weeks (n=104) and >36 weeks (n=709). MAIN MEASURES: Hypoxemia was defined as a PaO2 <40 mm Hg, hyperoxemia as a PaO2 of >99 mm Hg and normoxemia as a PaO2 of 50-80 mm Hg. Twenty-five per cent was defined as marked likelihood of hypoxemia or hyperoxemia. RESULTS: From these infants, 18 034 SpO2-PaO2 pairs were evaluated of which 10% were preterm. The PMA (median and IQR) of the two groups were: 28 weeks (27-30) and 40 weeks (38-41). With SpO2 levels between 90% and 95%, the likelihoods of hypoxemia and hyperoxemia were low and balanced. With increasing levels of SpO2, the likelihood of hyperoxemia increased. It became marked in the preterm group when SpO2 was 99%-100% (95% CI 29% to 41%) and in the term group with SpO2 levels of 96%-98% (95% CI 29% to 32%). The likelihood of hypoxemia increased as SpO2 decreased. It became marked in both with SpO2 levels of 80%-85% (95% CI 20% to 31%, 24% to 28%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The likelihood of a PaO2 <40 mm Hg is marked with SpO2 below 86%. The likelihood of a PaO2 >99 mm Hg is marked in term infants with SpO2 above 95% and above 98% in preterm infants. SpO2 levels between 90% and 95% are appropriate targets for term and preterm infants.

Biomedical Technology Faculty of Biomedical Engineering Czech Technical University Prague Kladno Czech Republic

Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine Children's Hospital Los Angeles University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine Los Angeles California USA

Neonatology Fetal and Neonatal Institute Children's Hospital Los Angeles University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine Los Angeles California USA

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