Higher oxygen saturation targets did not improve growth and neurodevelopment in extremely preterm infants
Q Does maintenance of higher oxygen saturation (SpO2) targets (95–98%) improve growth and neurodevelopment compared with standard targets (91–94%) in extremely preterm infants dependent on supplemental oxygen?
METHODS:
Design:
randomised controlled trial.
Allocation:
concealed.
Blinding:
blinded {patients, healthcare providers, data collectors, outcome assessors, monitoring committee}*.
Follow up period:
corrected age (chronologic age plus number of wks of prematurity) at 12 months.
Setting:
8 tertiary perinatal centres in Sydney, Australia.
Patients:
358 infants (mean age 26.5 wks, 53% boys) who were born at <30 weeks gestational age and remained dependent on supplemental oxygen at 32 weeks postmenstrual age (PA). Exclusion criteria: major congenital abnormalities; major surgery or severe intracranial disorder diagnosed at <32 weeks PA; and multiple births with ⩾3 eligible infants.
Interventions:
infants were stratified by hospital, singleton or multiple birth, and …
