Pulse oximeter with longer averaging time and missed chronic hypoxia in preterm infants

Background: Targeted oxygen saturation in preterm infants has been an area of debate for decades. Mild chronic hypoxia exposes some infants to significant comorbidities like pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH). The pulse oximeters vary in technical properties and setting; pulse oximeters with shorter SpO2 averaging time may provide a more accurate oxygen assessment. Aim: To evaluate the readiness of preterm infants for discharge based on the current unit's protocol which uses standard pulse oximetry with an averaging time of 20s, as opposed to a pulse oximeter with a shorter averaging time (2s). Methods: The study was a prospective observational pilot study included all infants