Acute life threatening events among infants on home oxygen.

BACKGROUND

Chronic lung disease (CLD) of prematurity is associated with significant morbidity, and infants discharged home in oxygen are particularly vulnerable.

AIM

To assess the incidence of acute life threatening events (ALTEs) during 12-month follow-up of CLD infants discharged home receiving supplemental oxygen.

METHOD

All infants discharged over a one-year period were studied. Pre-discharge oxygen requirements were set on clinical grounds. Before discharge, oxygen saturations were recorded blind using a data-logger. Infant's oxygen requirements, hospital attendances, and details of ALTEs were recorded over the subsequent year.

RESULTS

Sixteen infants were studied. Median (range): birth-weight 938 grams (448 - 1,638); gestational age 28 weeks (24 - 32); discharge oxygen requirement 0.20 litres/minute (0.05 - 0.50). Eight infants subsequently had one or more ALTEs. Discharge oxygen saturation profiles were significantly lower in these infant when compared to those not having ALTEs (p < 0.05), despite receiving supplementary oxygen.

CONCLUSIONS

Before discharge home, formal oxygen saturation studies should be performed in infants receiving supplementary oxygen to ensure optimum oxygen delivery.