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.