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Differential effects of the retinopathy of prematurity exam on the physiology of premature infants

Journal of Perinatology volume 39, pages 708–716 (2019)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Objective

To compare the differential effects of the retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) examination on the physiology of premature infants with and without oxygen support.

Study Design

We collected data from 42 premature infants (room air = 19, oxygen support = 23) and compared physiological metrics including heart rate (HR), systemic peripheral saturation (SpO2), mesenteric tissue oxygen saturation (StO2) and clinical events (oxygen desaturation episodes, bradycardia events, and gastric residuals).

Results

We found significant differences between groups in HR during and briefly after the exam, and in mesenteric StO2, during eye drop administration, eye exam, and up to 8 min after the exam. SpO2 was significantly different between the groups at all time points. Gastric residuals were higher after the exam in infants on oxygen support, compared to baseline.

Conclusion

Premature infants on oxygen support may be at a higher risk of adverse physiologic effects in response to the ROP exam.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Dorothy Forde RN, Erin Hoch RN, Elena Kim-Saesim RN, and Sharon Lee RN for identifying and consenting subjects. We thank the LLU NICU physicians and nurses for their support. We thank the parents for allowing their babies to be part of this study.

Author Contribution

AH and DMA conceived the original idea and planned the experiments. JBCT and JD performed the experiments. JBCT worked out the technical details and calculations. JCBT and DMA wrote the manuscript. CGW and all co-authors contributed, revised and provided critical feedback and helped shape the research, analysis and manuscript.

Funding

This work was supported in part by NIH grant R01 NR011209 (DMA).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Basic Sciences, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, 92350, USA

    John B. C. Tan & Danilyn M. Angeles

  2. Department of Ophthalmology, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, 92350, USA

    Jennifer Dunbar

  3. Department of Pediatrics, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, 92350, USA

    Andrew Hopper, Christopher G. Wilson & Danilyn M. Angeles

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  1. John B. C. Tan
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Correspondence to Danilyn M. Angeles.

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Tan, J.B.C., Dunbar, J., Hopper, A. et al. Differential effects of the retinopathy of prematurity exam on the physiology of premature infants. J Perinatol 39, 708–716 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-019-0331-z

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