Oxygen saturation profile of term equivalent extreme preterm infants at discharge - comparison with healthy term counterparts

AimCompare the oxygen saturation profiles before discharge of neonates born extremely preterm (<28 weeks), now at term equivalent age, with healthy term neonates and assess the impact of feeding on this profile in each group. MethodsWe prospectively evaluated and compared the oxygen saturation profile in 15 very low birthweight infants at term equivalent age, ready to be discharged home without any oxygen and 15 term newborns after 48 hours of life. We also evaluated and compared the saturations of these two groups during a one-hour period during and after feeding. ResultsTerm equivalent preterm and term infants spent median 3% and 0%, respectively, of the time below 90% in a 12-hour saturation-recording period. Term infants spent a median 0.26% and 0.65% of the time in <90% saturation during feed time and no feed time, respectively. In contrast, preterm infants spent significantly more time <90% saturation (3.47% and 3.5% during feed time and no feed time, respectively). ConclusionTerm equivalent preterm infants spent significantly more time in a saturation range <90% compared to term infants. Feeding had little effect on saturation profile overall within each group.