Comparative efficacy of apneic oxygenation with face mask versus face mask alone pre-oxygenation to Prevent desaturation during endotracheal intubation of elective Pediatric surgical patients at St. Peter hospital, Addis Ababa Ethiopia:A single center prospective cohort study

Abstract

BackgroundApneic oxygenation using a nasal cannula is used to deliver oxygen continuously during the apneic period of endotracheal intubation to prevent desaturation. Pre-oxygenation using face mask alone technique may be insufficient to provide a safe apnea period in pediatric patients who are at high risk for rapid desaturation compared to added apneic oxygenation. This study compared the efficacy of apneic oxygenation with a face mask (AO) versus a face mask alone (FMA) pre-oxygenation to prevent desaturation during endotracheal intubation in elective pediatric surgical patients. MethodsA prospective cohort study was conducted on two equal groups of elective pediatric patients observed in either use of apneic oxygenation with a face mask (AO) or face mask alone(FMA) pre-oxygenation during endotracheal intubation at the study hospital from early December 2021 to late March 2022. The data were collected using a structured questionnaire. The primary outcome variable was the desaturation SpO2 (<94%) observed during endotracheal intubation. The categorical data were analyzed using a χ2-test. Parametric data were analyzed using an independent t-test or one-way ANOVA as appropriate with a 95% CI and a p-value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The Bonferroni post hoc analysis was employed to test the significance of means between the groups. ResultsThe mean desaturation level was (SpO2 = 95.74 ± 2.99) in apneic oxygenation with face-mask group and (SpO2 = 93.96 ± 3.74) in the face-mask alone group(p = 0.006) with medium effect size (Cohan's d = 0.06). A one-way ANOVA showed a statistically significant difference in the mean (±SD) of desaturation level with the number of attempts at endotracheal intubation within the groups (P = 0.005). The Bonferroni pairwise comparison within groups, showed that the mean (±SD) desaturation level during endotracheal intubation for the participant with >2 attempts is significantly lower than for participants with only 1 attempt (p-value = 0.004). Conclusion and recommendationA continuous administration of apneic oxygenation (5-l/min) by nasal cannula during endotracheal intubation significantly reduced desaturation in pediatrics. We recommend the use of apneic oxygenation (AO) in pediatrics during intubation time.