title: Desaturation events in neonates during mechanical ventilation.
abstract: This study examines the accuracy of oxygen saturation measured by Nellcor N200 pulse oximetry (SpO2) compared with arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) measured through a three-wavelength fiberoptic umbilical catheter in 10 neonates who needed mechanical ventilation. Real-time SaO2 was validated with a reference method every 4 hours. Oxygen saturation readings (SaO2 and SpO2), along with pulse rate and pulsation, were recorded continuously every second through a computer. Concurrent care events and neonatal responses were recorded. Data were completed on 10 neonates who had an umbilical arterial catheter. Desaturation events (<90%) as measured by both SaO2 and SpO2 were described and compared. A total of 959 desaturation events occurred during an average of 51 hours of monitoring per subject. Of these events, 63% were associated with frozen SPO2 readings, and 18% of frozen readings occurred when SaO2 was <90%. Bias for SpO2 compared with SaO2 was +5.03%, with 5.6% of the readings outside the range of two standard deviations. However, 67% of the readings exceeded the 4% difference criterion between measurements. Future studies need to examine the desaturation events in relation to oxygenation status as measured by different methods.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, The University of Texas Health Science Center-Houston, USA.
authors.forename: Shyang-YunPamelaK
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Shiao
mesh_terms: D002404:Catheterization; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D010092:Oximetry; D010100:Oxygen / Q000032:analysis*; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000451:nursing* / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen