Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Commentary
  • Published:

The Unresolved Oxygen-level Issue: Hijacked by Anti-trialists

Journal of Perinatology volume 24, pages 109–111 (2004)Cite this article

We use a great deal of oxygen in our two premature nurseries, as everyone else does. And yet I can find no arithmetical basis for measuring the beneficial effects of this procedure. In our own experience, we have never altered this factor without at the same time introducing other changes in our methods. Nor have we ever treated alternate patients with and without oxygen, and I rather hope we never shall.

— Written in 1950 by one of the most highly respected pediatricians in the US (citation provided on request).

We use a great deal of oxygen in our two premature nurseries, as everyone else does. And yet I can find no arithmetical basis for measuring the beneficial effects of this procedure. In our own experience, we have never altered this factor without at the same time introducing other changes in our methods. Nor have we ever treated alternate patients with and without oxygen, and I rather hope we never shall.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

References

  1. Silverman WA . Retrolental Fibroplasia: A Modern Parable. New York: Grune & Stratton; 1980 (http://www.neonatology.org/classics/parable/default.html).

    Google Scholar 

  2. Kinsey VE, Arnold HJ, Kalina RE, et al. PaO2 levels and retrolental fibroplasia: a report of a Cooperative Study. Pediatrics 1977;60:655–668.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. The STOP-ROP Multicenter Study Group. Supplemental therapeutic oxygen for prethreshold retinopathy of prematurity (STOP-ROP), a randomized controlled trial I: primary outcomes. Pediatrics 2000;105:295–310.

  4. Tin W, Milligan WA, Pennefather P, Hey E . Pulse oximetry, severe retinopathy, and outcome at one year in babies of less than 28 weeks gestation. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonat Ed 2001;84:F106–F110.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Askie LM, Henderson-Smart DJ, Irwig L, Simpson JM . Oxygen-saturation targets and outcomes in extremely preterm infants. N Engl J Med 2003;349:959–967.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Cole CH, Wright KW, Tarnow-Mordi W, Phelps DL . Commentary: Resolving our uncertainty about oxygen therapy. Pediatrics 2003;112:1415–1419.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Greenbrae, CA, USA

    William A Silverman MD

Authors
  1. William A Silverman MD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Silverman, W. The Unresolved Oxygen-level Issue: Hijacked by Anti-trialists. J Perinatol 24, 109–111 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jp.7211029

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jp.7211029

Search

Advanced search

Quick links