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Background To reduce risk for intermittent hypoxia a high fraction of inspired oxygen is routinely used during anesthesia induction. This differs from the cautious dosing of oxygen during neonatal resuscitation and intensive care and may result in significant hyperoxia. Aim In a randomized controlled trial, we evaluated oxygenation during general anesthesia with a low (23%) vs a high (80% during induction and recovery, and 40% during maintenance) fraction of inspired oxygen, in newborn infants undergoing surgery. Method Thirty-five newborn infants with postconceptional age of 35-44 weeks were included (17 infants in low and 18 in high oxygen group). Oxygenation was monitored by transcutaneous partial pressure of oxygen, pulse oximetry, and cerebral oxygenation. Predefined SpO2 safety targets dictated when to increase inspired oxygen. Results At start of anesthesia, oxygenation was similar in both groups. Throughout anesthesia, the high oxygen group displayed significant hyperoxia with higher (difference-20.3 kPa, 95% confidence interval (CI)-28.4 to 12.2, p < .001) transcutaneous partial pressure of oxygen values than the low oxygen group. While SpO2 in the low oxygen group was lower (difference - 5.8%, 95% CI -9.3 to -2.4, p < .001) during anesthesia, none of the infants spent enough time below SpO(2) safety targets to mandate supplemental oxygen, and cerebral oxygenation was within the normal range and not statistically different between the groups. Analysis of the oxidative stress biomarker urinary F-2-Isoprostane revealed no differences between the low and high oxygen group. Conclusion We conclude that in healthy newborn infants, use of low oxygen during general anesthesia was feasible, while the prevailing practice of using high levels of inspired oxygen resulted in significant hyperoxia. The trade-off between careful dosing of oxygen and risks of hypo- and hyperoxia in neonatal anesthesia should be further examined.

Background To reduce risk for intermittent hypoxia a high fraction of inspired oxygen is routinely used during anesthesia induction. This differs from the cautious dosing of oxygen during neonatal resuscitation and intensive care and may result in significant hyperoxia. Aim In a randomized controlled trial, we evaluated oxygenation during general anesthesia with a low (23%) vs a high (80% during induction and recovery, and 40% during maintenance) fraction of inspired oxygen, in newborn infants undergoing surgery. Method Thirty-five newborn infants with postconceptional age of 35-44 weeks were included (17 infants in low and 18 in high oxygen group). Oxygenation was monitored by transcutaneous partial pressure of oxygen, pulse oximetry, and cerebral oxygenation. Predefined SpO2 safety targets dictated when to increase inspired oxygen. Results At start of anesthesia, oxygenation was similar in both groups. Throughout anesthesia, the high oxygen group displayed significant hyperoxia with higher (difference-20.3 kPa, 95% confidence interval (CI)-28.4 to 12.2, p < .001) transcutaneous partial pressure of oxygen values than the low oxygen group. While SpO2 in the low oxygen group was lower (difference - 5.8%, 95% CI -9.3 to -2.4, p < .001) during anesthesia, none of the infants spent enough time below SpO(2) safety targets to mandate supplemental oxygen, and cerebral oxygenation was within the normal range and not statistically different between the groups. Analysis of the oxidative stress biomarker urinary F-2-Isoprostane revealed no differences between the low and high oxygen group. Conclusion We conclude that in healthy newborn infants, use of low oxygen during general anesthesia was feasible, while the prevailing practice of using high levels of inspired oxygen resulted in significant hyperoxia. The trade-off between careful dosing of oxygen and risks of hypo- and hyperoxia in neonatal anesthesia should be further examined.

Background To reduce risk for intermittent hypoxia a high fraction of inspired oxygen is routinely used during anesthesia induction. This differs from the cautious dosing of oxygen during neonatal resuscitation and intensive care and may result in significant hyperoxia. Aim In a randomized controlled trial, we evaluated oxygenation during general anesthesia with a low (23%) vs a high (80% during induction and recovery, and 40% during maintenance) fraction of inspired oxygen, in newborn infants undergoing surgery. Method Thirty-five newborn infants with postconceptional age of 35-44 weeks were included (17 infants in low and 18 in high oxygen group). Oxygenation was monitored by transcutaneous partial pressure of oxygen, pulse oximetry, and cerebral oxygenation. Predefined SpO2 safety targets dictated when to increase inspired oxygen. Results At start of anesthesia, oxygenation was similar in both groups. Throughout anesthesia, the high oxygen group displayed significant hyperoxia with higher (difference-20.3 kPa, 95% confidence interval (CI)-28.4 to 12.2, p < .001) transcutaneous partial pressure of oxygen values than the low oxygen group. While SpO2 in the low oxygen group was lower (difference - 5.8%, 95% CI -9.3 to -2.4, p < .001) during anesthesia, none of the infants spent enough time below SpO(2) safety targets to mandate supplemental oxygen, and cerebral oxygenation was within the normal range and not statistically different between the groups. Analysis of the oxidative stress biomarker urinary F-2-Isoprostane revealed no differences between the low and high oxygen group. Conclusion We conclude that in healthy newborn infants, use of low oxygen during general anesthesia was feasible, while the prevailing practice of using high levels of inspired oxygen resulted in significant hyperoxia. The trade-off between careful dosing of oxygen and risks of hypo- and hyperoxia in neonatal anesthesia should be further examined.

Background To reduce risk for intermittent hypoxia a high fraction of inspired oxygen is routinely used during anesthesia induction. This differs from the cautious dosing of oxygen during neonatal resuscitation and intensive care and may result in significant hyperoxia. Aim In a randomized controlled trial, we evaluated oxygenation during general anesthesia with a low (23%) vs a high (80% during induction and recovery, and 40% during maintenance) fraction of inspired oxygen, in newborn infants undergoing surgery. Method Thirty-five newborn infants with postconceptional age of 35-44 weeks were included (17 infants in low and 18 in high oxygen group). Oxygenation was monitored by transcutaneous partial pressure of oxygen, pulse oximetry, and cerebral oxygenation. Predefined SpO2 safety targets dictated when to increase inspired oxygen. Results At start of anesthesia, oxygenation was similar in both groups. Throughout anesthesia, the high oxygen group displayed significant hyperoxia with higher (difference-20.3 kPa, 95% confidence interval (CI)-28.4 to 12.2, p < .001) transcutaneous partial pressure of oxygen values than the low oxygen group. While SpO2 in the low oxygen group was lower (difference - 5.8%, 95% CI -9.3 to -2.4, p < .001) during anesthesia, none of the infants spent enough time below SpO(2) safety targets to mandate supplemental oxygen, and cerebral oxygenation was within the normal range and not statistically different between the groups. Analysis of the oxidative stress biomarker urinary F-2-Isoprostane revealed no differences between the low and high oxygen group. Conclusion We conclude that in healthy newborn infants, use of low oxygen during general anesthesia was feasible, while the prevailing practice of using high levels of inspired oxygen resulted in significant hyperoxia. The trade-off between careful dosing of oxygen and risks of hypo- and hyperoxia in neonatal anesthesia should be further examined.

Background To reduce risk for intermittent hypoxia a high fraction of inspired oxygen is routinely used during anesthesia induction. This differs from the cautious dosing of oxygen during neonatal resuscitation and intensive care and may result in significant hyperoxia. Aim In a randomized controlled trial, we evaluated oxygenation during general anesthesia with a low (23%) vs a high (80% during induction and recovery, and 40% during maintenance) fraction of inspired oxygen, in newborn infants undergoing surgery. Method Thirty-five newborn infants with postconceptional age of 35-44 weeks were included (17 infants in low and 18 in high oxygen group). Oxygenation was monitored by transcutaneous partial pressure of oxygen, pulse oximetry, and cerebral oxygenation. Predefined SpO2 safety targets dictated when to increase inspired oxygen. Results At start of anesthesia, oxygenation was similar in both groups. Throughout anesthesia, the high oxygen group displayed significant hyperoxia with higher (difference-20.3 kPa, 95% confidence interval (CI)-28.4 to 12.2, p < .001) transcutaneous partial pressure of oxygen values than the low oxygen group. While SpO2 in the low oxygen group was lower (difference - 5.8%, 95% CI -9.3 to -2.4, p < .001) during anesthesia, none of the infants spent enough time below SpO(2) safety targets to mandate supplemental oxygen, and cerebral oxygenation was within the normal range and not statistically different between the groups. Analysis of the oxidative stress biomarker urinary F-2-Isoprostane revealed no differences between the low and high oxygen group. Conclusion We conclude that in healthy newborn infants, use of low oxygen during general anesthesia was feasible, while the prevailing practice of using high levels of inspired oxygen resulted in significant hyperoxia. The trade-off between careful dosing of oxygen and risks of hypo- and hyperoxia in neonatal anesthesia should be further examined.

Background Endtidal (ET) measurement of carbon dioxide is well established for intraoperative respiratory monitoring of adults and children, but the method's accuracy for intraoperative use in small newborn infants has been less extensively investigated. Aims The aim of this study was to compare carbon dioxide from ET measurements with arterialized capillary blood samples in newborn infants during general anesthesia and surgery. Methods Endtidal carbon dioxide was continuously measured during anesthesia and surgery and compared with simultaneous blood gas analyses obtained from capillary blood samples. Fifty-nine sample sets of ET to blood gas carbon dioxide were obtained from 23 prospectively enrolled infants with a gestational age of 23-41 weeks and a birth weight of 670-4110 g. Results Endtidal levels of carbon dioxide were considerably lower in all sample sets and only 4/23 individual ET-blood gas sample pairs differed <7.5 mm Hg (1 kPa). Bland-Altman analysis indicated a poor agreement with a bias of -13 7 mm Hg and a precision of +/- 14 mm Hg. The performance of ET measurements was particularly poor in infants weighing below 2.5 kg, in infants in need of respiratory support prior to anesthesia, and when the true (blood gas) carbon dioxide level was high, above 45 mm Hg. Conclusion Main-stream capnography during anesthesia and surgery correlated poorly to blood gas values in small and/or respiratory compromised infants. We conclude that caution should be exercised when relying solely on ET measurements to guide mechanical ventilation in the OR.