Automatic versus manual oxygen control in preterm infants
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Automatic oxygen control for reducing extremes of Oxygen Saturation (AreOS): A Randomised Control Trial
IRAS ID
277057
Contact name
VRINDA NAIR
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
South Tees NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 8 months, 31 days
Research summary
Oxygen treatment is common in babies born early (preterm) and requiring intensive care. Having too much or too little oxygen can increase the risk of damage to the eyes and lungs, and contribute to death or disability. Preterm infants because of their immaturity experience episodes of low oxygen levels. The low oxygen episodes are primarily due to pauses in their breathing (Apnoea of prematurity) and immaturity of their lung. These episodes persist for weeks. The lower the gestation at birth the longer the duration of these events. Studies have shown that these episodes of low oxygen saturations especially if frequent and prolonged is associated with poor developmental outcome, severe eye disease and lung disease.
Traditionally, the oxygen delivery is manually adjusted when infant has low oxygen saturation. However previous studies have shown despite the best efforts the oxygen level can only be maintained less than half of the time and nearly a one-fifth of the time infant spends in low oxygen levels and nearly one third of the time in high oxygen levels. Now it is possible to maintain oxygen level in target range by using automatic control of oxygen delivery. With the proposed study, we would like to study the efficacy of automatic control of oxygen delivery in reducing the time spent in low oxygen levels.REC name
North East - Newcastle & North Tyneside 1 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/NE/0045
Date of REC Opinion
18 Feb 2020
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion