O2% to admin initally on apneic/resp distress preemie

Specialties NICU

Published

Hi Everyone,

I've taken the NRP online exam and completed it but am to do the skills eval soon and do not know the ans to this ques which not only will I need to know but want to know for real life purposes. I've looked through the textbook and even googled it and can not seem to find the ans.... with a premature infant..I read that you use an O2 blender and titrate to the expected spO2 based on age in mins but if apneic or in resp distress how much O2 % do you initally administer when you first begin PPV? Just RA or 30% etc? Since the concern is to avoid significant O2 changes in too short a time it seems a very sensitive topic to me...

Thank you for any info!:)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU.

The NRP book just says "somewhat higher" for premature babies. My facility has decided to start at 40%, but that's arbitrary, not evidence based. In general you titrate to oxygen saturations. The other hard and fast rule is that if you start chest compressions, the O2 goes immediately to 100%.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thank you so much for the info! But I have another question then...

Does your facility start at 40% regardless of if born at term or not?

From your last sentence does it mean that if HR

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU.

Pardon me, I wasn't clear: 40% is our "somewhat higher" for preterms. Term babies are started at 21%.

Yes, if the HR

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment