Oxygen saturation levels in the first 30 minutes of life.
OBJECTIVE
To report a serendipitous finding from a larger investigation describing physiologic variability of healthy and sick pre- and full-term neonates transitioning to extrauterine life in whom the oxygen arterial saturations rose to 90% very quickly.


METHODS
Thirty-four healthy pre- and full-term neonates and 40 sick pre- and full-term neonates.


METHODS
Descriptive, comparative.


METHODS
Within the first 15-30 seconds of life, a pulse oximeter probe was placed on the dorsum of the neonate's foot. The signal was uploaded from the Hewlett Packard Viridia cardiopulmonary/oxygen saturation monitor to a data acquisition module at the bedside. Healthcare personnel performed their routine caregiving procedures for the neonate beginning transition to extrauterine life. They were at liberty to administer oxygen when they felt it was clinically necessary.


METHODS
Oxygen saturation as measured by pulse oximetry.


RESULTS
Oxygen saturation values reached higher levels much faster for all groups of neonates than what has been previously reported in the literature.


CONCLUSIONS
In light of recent controversies regarding oxygen therapy, the practice of randomly administering oxygen to healthy infants at time of delivery should be examined.
Verklan
M Terese
MT
Department of Systems, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, School of Nursing, Houston, Texas 77030, USA. m.t.verklan@uth.tmc.edu
Padhye
Nikhil S
NS
Turner
Natasha C
NC
D005528:Foot; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn / Q000097:blood* / Q000502:physiology; D010092:Oximetry / Q000379:methods; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood*; D015206:Southwestern United States
D010100:Oxygen