Preductal postductal oxygen saturation gradient in preterm infants immediately after birth: Effect of gestational age on achievement of target saturation

Background: The delivery room oxygen saturation (SpO2) monitoring in neonates is based on studies term infants. Study of preductal-postductal SpO2 gradient healthy preterms immediately after birth will help follow-up an abnormal gradient, rationalizing therapy, and early identification congenital cyanotic heart disease. Aims Objectives: initially low gradually increases to normal newborns postnatally. Postductal lower than preductal, but their difference decreases Our study aims find out the correlation between gestational age SpO2. In preterms, may persist longer due patent ductus arteriosus higher pulmonary vascular resistance. Materials Methods: This observational cross-sectional has been conducted over 1 year with 80 birth, Institutional Ethics Committee approval parental informed consent. Preductal postductal were recorded by probes right hand left foot respectively for 20 min birth. Data analyzed SPSS software. Results: shows that significant first life there positive preductal at negative time taken achieve 90% Conclusion: concludes persists reach significantly decreasing age.