Measuring Oxygenation of Newborn Infants in Targeted Oxygen Ranges (MONITOR)

Describing the Differences in Oxygen Profiles in Premature Infants of Less Than 29 Weeks Gestational Age When Targeted to an Oxygen Saturation Range 92 to 97%, Compared to 90 to 95%

The investigators aim to measure the effect of targeting premature babies to a slightly higher oxygen saturation target range (92-97%) than routinely used, for a brief period, to plan a future larger study of the effect of this on clinical outcomes.

It is still unclear exactly what levels of oxygen premature babies need - both too little or too much oxygen in the first weeks after birth may be harmful. Previous studies used saturation monitoring (SpO2), where a small probe shines light through the skin and calculates how much oxygen is carried in the blood. These studies demonstrated using an SpO2 range of 91-95% rather than 85-89% was associated with more babies surviving and fewer babies suffering from a bowel condition called necrotising enterocolitis (NEC). However, targeting oxygen higher increased the number of infants who needed treatment for an eye condition called retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).

It is possible an SpO2 range higher than 91-95% would be associated with even better survival. It is also possible that a higher range might not improve survival but could increase the need for ROP treatment.

Infants born at less than 29 weeks gestation, greater than 48 hours of age and receiving supplementary oxygen would be eligible for inclusion. The study is at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. Total study time is 12 hours for each infant (6 hours at the standard 90-95% range used in our unit, and 6 hours at 92-97%). It is a crossover study with infants acting as their own controls.

Based on previous research the investigators are confident these oxygen levels will not be dangerously high. To provide an additional measure of oxygen the investigators will also use a transcutaneous monitor for the 12 hour study period, which fastens gently to the skin and measures oxygen and carbon dioxide levels on the skin surface.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Hypoxia; Hyperoxia; Premature Infant
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Higher target range

Detailed Description

This study is a single centre randomised crossover study. Infants born at less than 29 weeks gestation, greater than 48 hours of age and receiving supplementary oxygen would be eligible for inclusion. The study is at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. Total study time is 12 hours for each infant (6 hours at the standard 90-95% range used in our unit, and 6 hours at 92-97%). It is a crossover study with infants acting as their own controls.

A complete list of all monitoring that will be carried out is shown below:

1. SpO2 monitoring
2. TcPO2 monitoring
3. Heart rate monitoring (used to validate SpO2 readings as described below)
4. Arterial gas sampling (only if conducted by the direct care team as part of the routine care of the infant will these be recorded. No extra blood samples will be taken as part of the study)

Each infant will be monitored simultaneously with an SpO2 monitor and TcPo2 monitor, with data recording starting from the time the transcutaneous monitor finishes calibrating. SpO2 readings will be downloaded directly from the multiparameter patient monitor. SpO2 will be measured using a Siemens Infinity SC7000 multiparameter monitor. This monitor uses Siemens' Oxisure pulse oximetry technology and Nellcor Oximax saturation probes and incorporates ECG to reduce motion artefact. To reduce the influence of artefact further, data from an infants chest leads (recording heart rate) will also be downloaded. If there is a greater than 10 beats per minute difference between heart rate measured from the pulse oximeter and heart rate measured from the chest leads, SpO2 for that time point will be disregarded.

TcPO2 will be measured using a SenTec Digital Monitoring System with OxiVent sensor. TcPO2 is calculated by dynamic fluorescence quenching which measures oxygen molecules present in the vicinity of a fluorescent dye incorporated within the sensor surface. The sensor is operated at a constant temperature of 43 degrees Celsius. Control of sensor temperature and application duration are designed to meet all applicable standards and this monitoring device is used routinely in many neonatal units, with transcutaneous monitoring part of the monitoring equipment we use in selected infants in our unit and being transported by our local neonatal transport team. Temperature is supervised by two independent circuits, as well as by the monitor firmware.

Transcutaneous data will be transferred contemporaneously to a bedside PC via the proprietary software V-STATS (with V-CareNeT) version 4.01. We will ensure the time on the monitor is synchronised with the time displayed on the electronic patient record system recording SpO2 and heart rate. V-STATS software can identify any spurious spikes in TcPO2 caused by air bubbles and these identified segments of data will be discarded. Artefact has not significantly affected readings during the routine use of this monitor previously on our neonatal unit and with our neonatal transport team. The site of the transcutaneous probe will be rotated on each infant every 2 hours.

SpO2, TcPO2 and heart rate data will be recorded every second. The time of any arterial oxygen samples taken routinely during the study will be recorded from the unit Radiometer ABL800 FLEX blood gas analyser.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 20
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United Kingdom
  • Lothian
    • Edinburgh, Lothian, United Kingdom, EH16 4SA
      • Neonatal Unit - Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 3 years to 3 years (Child)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Infants born at less than 29 weeks gestation
• Infants greater than 48 hours of age
• Infants who are receiving supplementary oxygen

Exclusion Criteria:

• Congenital anomalies that would affect oxygenation (eg. cardiac defects, congenital diaphragmatic hernia)

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Higher target range; Infants will be targeted to 92-97% oxygen saturation	Other: Higher target range; Intervention is using a higher oxygen saturation target range than in routine practice; Other Names: Using a higher oxygen saturation target range
No Intervention: Standard target range; Infants will be targeted to 90-95% oxygen saturation, which is the range used as routine in the Neonatal Unit involved in the study

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Incidence of hyperoxia and hypoxia on saturations	Percentage time spent above an SpO2 of 97% and below an SpO2 of 90% when infants are targeted to an SpO2 range of 92-97% compared to 90-95%	12 hours

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Incidence of hyperoxia and hypoxia on Transcutaneous monitoring	To discover the percentage time spent above a TcPO2 of 80mmHg and below a TcPO2 of 50mmHg when infants are targeted to an SpO2 range of 92-97% compared to 90-95%	12 hours
Saturation variability	To discover the variability in SpO2 (measured by standard deviation) when infants are targeted to an SpO2 range of 92-97% compared to 90-95%	12 hours
Transcutaneous variability	To discover the variability in TcPO2 (measured by standard deviation) when infants are targeted to an SpO2 range of 92-97% compared to 90-95%	12 hours
Characterise PaO2 values within the two oxygen saturation target ranges	In infants who are undergoing PaO2 measurement as part of their routine care describe the PO2 values observed in the two target ranges	12 hours
Pooled frequency histogram of SpO2	To generate a pooled frequency histogram of percentage time at each SpO2 point between 80 and 100% for infants targeted to an SpO2 range of 92-97% compared to 90-95%	12 hours
Pooled frequency histogram of TcPO2	To generate a pooled frequency histogram of percentage time at a TcPO2 of below 30mmHg, 30-39.9mmHg, 40-49.9mmHg, 50-59.9mmHg, 60-69.9mmHg, 70-79.9mmHg, and 80mmHg and above for infants targeted to an SpO2 range of 92-97% compared to 90-95%	12 hours

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Edinburgh
• Collaborators: NHS Lothian

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): January 18, 2020
• Primary Completion (Actual): May 18, 2021
• Study Completion (Actual): February 17, 2022

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: November 27, 2017
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 27, 2017
• First Posted (Actual): December 4, 2017

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 28, 2022
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 10, 2022
• Last Verified: September 1, 2019

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Neonatology
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Signs and Symptoms, Respiratory; Pregnancy Complications; Obstetric Labor Complications; Obstetric Labor, Premature; Premature Birth; Hypoxia; Hyperoxia
• Other Study ID Numbers: AC17098; 194632 (Registry Identifier: IRAS)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: No

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No