Sojourn in excessively high oxygen saturation ranges in individual, very low-birthweight neonates

Aim To investigate the variability in sojourn times at high oxygen saturations (SpO2) in individual patients and to examine whether there are subsets of patients or treatments that are associated with differing sojourn times at SpO2 ≥93%. Methods Pulse oximetry data (Masimo) were studied in 71 premature babies receiving supplemental oxygen. Outcome measure was proportion of time per 12‐h shift that individual babies spent in the range SpO2 ≥93%. We studied whether an inordinate proportion of time spent at SpO2 ≥93% was attributable to any subset of babies, mode of ventilation or nursing shifts, whether sojourn times were statistically independent shift‐to‐shift and whether an educational intervention reduced the amount of time spent at SpO2 ≥93%. Results The proportion of time spent by the populations overall at SpO2 ≥93% was distributed equally among babies. However, high‐frequency ventilation was associated with the least amount of time at SpO2 ≥93% compared with other modes of respiratory support (p