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. 2019 Oct;11(10):4234-4240.
doi: 10.21037/jtd.2019.09.66.

Low versus high pulse oxygen saturation directed oxygen therapy in critically ill patients: a randomized controlled pilot study

Xiaobo Yang  1   2 , You Shang  1   2 , Shiying Yuan  1   2
Affiliations

Low versus high pulse oxygen saturation directed oxygen therapy in critically ill patients: a randomized controlled pilot study

Xiaobo Yang et al. J Thorac Dis. 2019 Oct.

Abstract

Background: Data on the safety and feasibility of pulse oxygen saturation (SpO2) directed oxygen therapy in mainland China are scarce. The aim of this pilot study was to test the feasibility of SpO2 directed oxygen therapy and to calculate sample size base on differences in 28-day mortality rates for a large sample-sized randomized trial.

Methods: This prospective pilot study enrolled 214 adult patients with an expected intensive care unit (ICU) stay of more than 72 hours. Patients were randomized into a low SpO2 group (SpO2 90-95%) or high SpO2 group (SpO2 96-100%). The primary outcome was 28-day mortality.

Results: One hundred patients were included in the low SpO2 group, and 114 patients were included in the high SpO2 group. The demographic and baseline characteristics were not different. The time-weighted SpO2 average was significantly lower in the low SpO2 group than in the high SpO2 group [mean ± standard deviation (SD), 95.7%±2.3% vs. 98.2%±1.8%, P<0.001]. Twenty-six patients (26%) in the low SpO2 group died within 28 days after inclusion, while 37 patients (32.5%) in the high SpO2 group died (P=0.301). The time to death within 28 days between the two groups was not different (P=0.284).

Conclusions: SpO2 directed oxygen therapy in critically ill patients was feasible. Our pilot trial necessitates and rationalizes our large-sample multicenter trial.

Keywords: mortality; oxygen therapy; pulse oxygen saturation (SpO2).

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Screening process and patients inclusion. ICU, intensive care unit; SpO2, pulse oxygen saturation.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Probability of survival from study randomization through day 28 for patients in the two groups. SpO2, pulse oxygen saturation.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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