pediatrics
Respiratory Support in Neonates and Infants
Oxygen for Neonates and Infants
Oxygen may be given using a nasal cannula or face mask. Oxygen concentration should be set to achieve a PaO2 of 50 to 70 mm Hg in Preterm Infants and 50 to 80 mm Hg in term infants or an oxygen saturation of 90 to 94% in preterm infants and 92 to 96% in term infants. Lower PaO2 in infants provides almost full saturation of hemoglobin, because fetal hemoglobin has a higher affinity for oxygen; maintaining higher PaO2 increases the risk of 40%. If an umbilical artery catheter cannot be placed, a percutaneous radial artery catheter can be used for continuous blood pressure monitoring and blood sampling if the result of the Arterial Blood Gas (ABG) Sampling , which is done to assess adequacy of collateral circulation, is normal. 1000 g) are sometimes begun on ventilatory support immediately after delivery (see also Oxygen reference ) so that they can receive preventive surfactant therapy. Because 1.Lista G, Fontana P, Castoldi F, et al: ELBW infants: To intubate or not to intubate in the delivery room?J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med25 (supplement 4):63–65, 2012. doi: 10.3109/14767058.2012.715008 