Abstract
In order to determine whether maintaining the PaO2 between 50-70 mmHg by continuous TcPO2 monitoring could reduce the incidence of ROP, 296 infants with birth weight ≤ 1300g requiring O2 therapy from the first week of life were randomly assigned to a continuous monitoring (CM) or a standard care group (SC). CM group infants had TcPO2 monitoring for as long as they required supplemental O2. SC group infants had TcPO2 monitoring only during the more acute stage of their disease after which their PaO2 was monitored by intermittent sampling. Management of both groups was otherwise identical. 101/148 infants in the CM and 113/148 in the SC group survived. A conclusive positive or negative ROP diagnosis was made after a minimum of two eye examinations in 87 CM and 102 SC surviving infants. Mean birth weight and gestational age were the same in both groups (CM, 1038g, 29.7 wk; SC 1034g, 29.7 wk). The proportions of infants with neonatal asphyxia, RDS, those receiving indomethacin and blood transfusions were also similar in both groups. The incidence of ROP was similar in both groups, 43/87 CM vs 61/102 SC. Only in infants ≥ 1000g was ROP less frequent in CM than in SC group (15/53 vs 30/62 p=.045). Grades III-V cicatricial RLF occurred in 1 CM and 3 SC infants. Continuous oxygen monitoring may reduce the incidence of ROP in infants ≥ 1000g BWT. Supported by NEI Grant #EY03513-01
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