Baby oxygen saturation study

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Reference data for neonatal oxygen saturation – a pilot study

  • IRAS ID

    217928

  • Contact name

    Helen Mactier

  • Contact email

    helen.mactier@ggc.scot.nhs.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    Greater Glasgow & Clyde Research & Development Office

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    0 years, 6 months, 1 days

  • Research summary

    Blood oxygen saturation is the percentage of haemoglobin carrying oxygen. Healthy term infants breathing room air have similar oxygen saturation levels as adults. In those born prematurely, oxygen saturation levels have to be carefully balanced as too high levels predispose to retinopathy of prematurity and too low levels are linked to increased mortality. Beyond 36 weeks postmenstrual age, low oxygen saturation levels are associated with poor weight gain and respiratory compromise. To prevent this, some ex-preterm babies are discharged home on supplemental oxygen and we use the Masimo Radical 7 device to help us guide who should require this.

    This is a new device that allows for more detailed monitoring of oxygen saturation levels. We now detect many more fluctuations in oxygen saturations in those ex-preterm babies nearing discharge home and are unsure as to the importance of these as there is little data to define acceptable saturation limits.

    We plan a prospective study to measure oxygen saturation data from newly born healthy appropriately grown term infants to define preliminary reference limits and to inform the design of a future larger study where oxygen saturation reference limits would be defined across a wider gestational age group.

    We will complete oximetry measurements from 40 newborn infants recruited at the Princess Royal Maternity Hospital. These babies will be those born via elective caesarean section at 39 weeks gestation. These tend to be healthy and appropriately grown and will be remaining in hospital for two to three days after delivery regardless. They will undergo twelve hours of recording via a foot sensor attached to a Masimo 7 device.

    This study is funded by a small grant from Glasgow's Children Charity.

  • REC name

    Yorkshire & The Humber - South Yorkshire Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    17/YH/0014

  • Date of REC Opinion

    19 Jan 2017

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion