Aim: To determine the relationship between medical staff's response time (RT) to oxygen saturation (SpO2 ) below 80% and the associated time from tactile intervention until SpO2 normalisation (CT).
Methods: Time-lapse video and continuous SpO2 were recorded for six consecutive 24 h periods. Regression analyses of RT and SpO2 in association with postmenstrual age (PMA), weight, infant sex and frequency of intermittent hypoxemia (IH).
Results: Five hundred and twelve hypoxemia episodes received tactile intervention in 20 extremely preterm infants (gestational age ≤28 weeks, birthweight <1500 g). Median RT was 20.5 s (IQR 16.63-25.50). RT increased with increased IH frequency (p = 0.023) independently of PMA and weight. SpO2 decreased by 3.7% with every 10 s RT (p = 0.039). Time until SpO2 normalisation was strongly associated with RT (β = 0.58, p = 0.042). The association was amplified by lower PMA (p = 0.043). Female preterm infants experienced longer RT than males (p = 0.027). Because the total length of an IH is the sum of RT and CT, preterm infants with low PMA can reach a critical hypoxemia duration of >60 s, even with short RT.
Conclusion: The RT is a critical factor that affects the overall time of IH treatments and the depth of desaturation. The consequences of a prolonged RT are worse for more immature preterm infants.
© 2023 The Authors. Acta Paediatrica published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Foundation Acta Paediatrica.