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  • Quality Improvement Article
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Oxygen saturation histogram monitoring to reduce death or retinopathy of prematurity: a quality improvement initiative

Journal of Perinatology volume 40, pages 163–169 (2020)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Objectives

Maintaining preterm infants within a goal oxygen saturation range challenges care providers. Through periodic assessment of saturation trends on infants’ bedside histogram reports, our initiative aimed to (1) increase time spent at goal saturations and (2) reduce death or severe retinopathy of prematurity.

Study design

The initiative integrated histogram monitoring into provider, respiratory, and nursing care. Achieved oxygen saturations, chart audits, and bedside histogram monitoring flowsheets provided process measures with the outcome measure of death or severe retinopathy of prematurity.

Results

In infants <29 weeks’ gestation (n = 518), the rate of death or severe retinopathy of prematurity prior to hospital discharge decreased from 32.1% to 18.0%. Time at goal saturations (90-95%) increased from 48.7% to 57.6%.

Conclusion

In infants born at <29 weeks’ gestation, periodic, multidisciplinary oxygen saturation histogram monitoring improved time at goal saturations and was associated with a reduction in death or severe retinopathy of prematurity.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to acknowledge the care providers across all disciplines that enabled the success of this initiative.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA

    Samuel Gentle, Lindy Winter, Ariel A. Salas & Joseph B. Philips III

  2. Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA

    George El-Ferzli

Authors
  1. Samuel Gentle
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  2. George El-Ferzli
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  3. Lindy Winter
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  4. Ariel A. Salas
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  5. Joseph B. Philips III
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Correspondence to Samuel Gentle.

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Gentle, S., El-Ferzli, G., Winter, L. et al. Oxygen saturation histogram monitoring to reduce death or retinopathy of prematurity: a quality improvement initiative. J Perinatol 40, 163–169 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-019-0486-7

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