Awake daytime oximetry measurements in the management of infants with chronic lung disease.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the value of 1-h daytime awake oximetry as a means of weaning oxygen flows in infants with oxygen dependent chronic lung disease.


METHODS
A cohort study of oxygen dependent infants enrolled in a 3-month period. One hour of awake oximetry data were compared with equal time periods defined within a polysomnographic study and at the same oxygen flow rate. Sensitivity results were derived from the decision to wean oxygen to a lower flow or air.


RESULTS
Twenty-two infants were enrolled and 27 studies were performed. The infants that could be weaned had an awake median of mean oxygen saturations of 97% and spent 14% of the time < or = 95% but only 2% < or = 92%, while for those not weaned, the awake median of mean oxygen saturations was 94% with 43% of their time < or = 95% and 26.8% < or = 92% saturation.


CONCLUSIONS
Daytime oximetry can predict the outcome of polysomnography with a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 65%, and could be used to wean oxygen or as a screening tool for polysomnographic studies in infants with chronic lung disease provided there are reasonably long periods of monitoring and mean oxygen saturations above 95%.
Vermeulen
M J
MJ
Department of Respiratory Medicine, Mater Children's Hospital, South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Weening
F T
FT
Battistutta
D
D
Masters
I B
IB
D001997:Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia / Q000628:therapy*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D010092:Oximetry / Q000379:methods*; D010102:Oxygen Inhalation Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D017286:Polysomnography; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric