Authors (including presenting author) :
Ng DYH, Hau SF, Chan J
Affiliation :
The Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Kwong Wah Hospital
Introduction :
Bronchiolitis is common reason for admission to hospital for infants aged under 24 months of age. Oxygen therapy is often prescribed to patients to maintain peripheral capillary oxygen saturation of ≥94%. A landmark randomised, double-blinded study published in the Lancet in 2015 concludes the management of infants with bronchiolitis to an oxygen saturation target of ≥90% or higher is as safe and clinically effective as a target of ≥94% or higher.
Objectives :
We aimed to assess whether a use of target oxygen saturation of ≥94% prolongs hospital stay compare to a target of a ≥90% for infants admitted to hospital with viral bronchiolitis.
Methodology :
We retrospectively retrieved records for all infants admitted to general paediatrics in-patient ward with a diagnosis of bronchiolitis aged 1-24months over a 3-months period. All patients' case summaries were reviewed. We collected data on if each patient required oxygen therapy and their duration of hospital stay. For patients requiring oxygen therapy, we also collected data on the duration of supplementary oxygen therapy and their prescribed oxygen saturation target. In addition, we recorded the lowest oxygen saturation before starting oxygen therapy, the mode of delivery of oxygen therapy, the amount or concentration of oxygen supplementation, the daily modified-Clinical Asthma Score and the feeding status of the child during his/her hospital stay.
Result & Outcome :
There was 25 infants with diagnosis of bronchiolitis admitted to our general paediatrics unit over a 3-month period. 4 patients required supplementary oxygen therapy. The 4 infants required supplementary oxygen therapy had a lowest oxygen target of 88-91% and received oxygen supplementation to achieve a target oxygen saturation of ≥92% or ≥94%. All received oxygen therapy with a modified-Child Asthma Score of ≤2. The mean duration of hospital stay is considerably longer in children who was given oxygen supplementation (5.25 vs 3.38 days). The use of target oxygen saturation of ≥94% in the management of infants admitted to hospital with bronchiolitis prolongs hospital stay compare to the equally safe and clinically effective target of ≥90%.
Co-location with:
