Excessive Oxygen Supplementation in the First Day of Mechanical Ventilation Is Associated With Multiple Organ Dysfunction and Death in Critically Ill Children

Abstract

Objectives: To determine if greater cumulative exposure to oxygen despite adequate oxygenation over the first 24 hours of mechanical ventilation is associated with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome at 7 days and inhospital mortality in critically ill children.

Design: Retrospective, observational cohort study.

Setting: Two urban, academic PICUs.

Patients: Patients less than 18 years old who required mechanical ventilation within 3 days of admission between 2010 and 2018 (Lurie Children's Hospital) or 2010 and 2016 (Comer Children's Hospital).

Interventions: None.

Measurements and main results: There were 5,406 mechanically ventilated patients, of which 960 (17.8%) had multiple organ dysfunction syndrome on day 7 of admission and 319 died (5.9%) during their hospitalization. Cumulative exposure to greater amounts of supplemental oxygen, while peripheral oxygen saturation was 95% or more during the first 24 hours of mechanical ventilation was independently associated with an increased risk of both multiple organ dysfunction syndrome on day 7 and inhospital mortality after adjusting for confounders. Patients in the highest quartile of cumulative oxygen exposure had an increased odds of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome on day 7 (adjusted odds ratio, 3.9; 95% CI, 2.7-5.9) and inhospital mortality (adjusted odds ratio, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.1-2.9), when compared with those in the lowest quartile of cumulative oxygen exposure after adjusting for age, presence of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome on day 1 of mechanical ventilation, immunocompromised state, and study site.

Conclusions: Greater cumulative exposure to excess supplemental oxygen in the first 24 hours of mechanical ventilation is independently associated with an increased risk of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome on day 7 of admission and inhospital mortality in critically ill children.