[Oxygen peripheral saturation using pulse oxymetry among healthy term newborns at Mexico's altitude (2240 m)].
BACKGROUND
Oxygen peripheral saturation (SpO2) is crucial for an adequate management of critically-ill newborns infants (NB). The objective of the present study was to determine SpO2 by pulse oxymetry among healthy term and preterm NBs at an altitude of 2240 m above sea level.


METHODS
Observational, cross-sectional and comparative. 218 NBs were prospectively studied between January to April 2004. Eighty nine were term and 128 were preterm. Alpha levels were set at p<0.05.


RESULTS
The recorded lower value for SpO2 was 88%, and the maximum was 99%. We observed a significant SpO2 difference among the term NB (93.5+/-2%) and preterm NBs (92.9+/-2%), p=0.01.


CONCLUSIONS
SpO2 in Mexico City's altitude is on average lower when compared to that observed at sea level. In general with a minimum and maximum values found in our study the SpO2 needed to maintain a critically sick NB with supplementary O2, is suggested. Values should be kept at between 88% and 94% to avoid hypoxemia and hyperoxemia.
Tapia-Rombo
Carlos Antonio
CA
Servicio de Neonatología, Hospital General Dr. Gaudencio González Garza Unidad Médica de Alta Especialidad, México D.F., México. tapiachar@yahoo.com.mx
Rosales-Cervantes
María Guadalupe Isabel
MG
Saucedo-Zavala
Víctor Joel
VJ
Ballesteros-del Olmo
Julio César
JC
Sánchez-García
Luisa
L
Santos-Vera
Isela
I
D000531:Altitude; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico; D010092:Oximetry; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values
D010100:Oxygen