Predictive Intelligent Control of Oxygenation (PRICO) in preterm infants on high flow nasal cannula support: a randomised cross-over study.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the efficacy of automated control of inspired oxygen (FiO2) by Predictive Intelligent Control of Oxygenation (PRICO) on the Fabian ventilator in maintaining oxygen saturation (SpO2) in preterm infants on high flow nasal cannula (HFNC) support.

DESIGN

Single-centre randomised two-period crossover study.

SETTING

Tertiary neonatal intensive care unit.

PATIENTS

27 preterm infants (gestational age (GA) <30 weeks) on HFNC support with FiO2 >0.25.

INTERVENTION

A 24-hour period on automated FiO2-control with PRICO compared with a 24-hour period on routine manual control (RMC) to maintain a SpO2 level within target range of 88%-95% measured at 30 s intervals.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Primary outcome: time spent within target range (88%-95%).

SECONDARY OUTCOMES

time spent above and below target range, in severe hypoxia (SpO2 <80%) and hyperoxia (SpO2 >98%), mean SpO2 and FiO2 and manual FiO2 adjustments.

RESULTS

15 patients received PRICO-RMC and 12 RMC-PRICO. The mean time within the target range increased with PRICO: 10.8% (95% CI 7.6 to 13.9). There was a decrease in time below target range: 7.6% (95% CI 4.2 to 11.0), above target range: 3.1% (95% CI 2.9 to 6.2) and in severe hypoxia: 0.9% (95% CI 1.5 to 0.2). We found no difference in time spent in severe hyperoxia. Mean FiO2 was higher during PRICO: 0.019 (95% CI 0.006 to 0.030). With PRICO there was a reduction of manual adjustments: 9/24 hours (95% CI 6 to 12).

CONCLUSION

In preterm infants on HFNC support, automated FiO2-control by PRICO is superior to RMC in maintaining SpO2 within target range. Further validation studies with a higher sample frequency and different ventilation modes are needed.