Home oxygen management of neonatal chronic lung disease in Western Australia.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the course and management of infants with neonatal chronic lung disease who were discharged home on low-flow supplemental oxygen.

METHODOLOGY

Retrospective case series in Western Australia.

RESULTS

Fifty-six neonates born in the 6 year period 1987-92 inclusive were discharged home on supplemental oxygen. The median gestational age was 27 weeks (range 22-40), median birthweight 865 g (range 450-3350), median oxygen flow rates 125 mL/min (range 30-850). The median corrected age at discharge was 1 month (range term-9.5) and this had decreased throughout the study period. Acute hospital readmissions were common (36 of 56, 64%). The majority of these admissions were for wheezing illnesses. Three infants died. The median corrected age at weaning from day oxygen was 4 months (range term-33) and from night oxygen was 6 months (range 2-38). Monitoring of oxygen saturation in air, in low-flow oxygen and in the overnight sleep study were important non-invasive guides in deciding when patients were ready for discharge, reducing the oxygen flow rate and when oxygen could be ceased, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The home oxygen programme enables infants with neonatal chronic lung disease to be discharged home earlier, is safe, and well accepted by parents and community health care workers.