Monitoring of oxygen therapy in neonatal care units in Khartoum State

Abstract

Background: oxygen is a drug that is essential in the treatment and prevention of neonatal hypoxia. The goal of oxygen therapy is to deliver sufficient oxygen to tissues while minimizing oxygen toxicity and oxidative stress. Improvement in monitoring technology of oxygen therapy has helped to improve  clinicians’ ability to appropriately apply and deliver oxygen . The objectives of this study were to evaluate the practice of oxygen monitoring and weaning in the neonatal care units in Khartoum State. Materials and Methods: This is a prospective, observational and descriptive hospital-based study conducted during the period January - June 2014. One hundred and thirty nine neonates were included in the study. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire. The questionnaire contained questions about personnel data, the practice of delivering oxygen, practice of monitoring, weaning and the knowledge of the staff about complications of oxygen therapy. Results: One hundred and thirty nine newborns were enrolled in the study. Males were 84 (60.4%)and females were 55 (39.6%) .Saturation was not  measured at the time of oxygen administration in 119 (85.6%) neonates . Monitoring was interrupted in 136 neonates (97.8%) and done by pulse oximetry and clinically in 134(96.4%) .  Humidification was checked in 135 (97.1%) of neonates . Oxygen was monitored for all neonates in the study . monitoring was done by pulse oximetry and clinically in 134 neonates (96.4%) , pulse oximetry and ABG in 4 neonates (2.9%) and pulse oximetry and  arterial blood gas (ABG) and clinically in 1 (0.7%). Conclusion: The study showed there was shortage of monitoring devices. This should be  highlighted to overcome the complications and to improve the practice of oxygen therapy. Distribution of guidelines regarding oxygen therapy as well as improvement of oxygen delivery devices and monitoring systems are recommended.