Servo Controlled Oxygen Targeting (SCO2T) Study: Masimo vs. Nellcor

Most premature babies require oxygen therapy. There is uncertainty about what oxygen levels are the best. The oxygen levels in the blood are measured using a monitor called a saturation monitor and the oxygen the baby breathes is adjusted to keep the level in a target range. Although there is evidence that lower oxygen levels maybe harmful, it is not known how high they need to be for maximum benefit. Very high levels are also harmful. Saturation monitors are not very good for checking for high oxygen levels. For this a different kind of monitor, called a transcutaneous monitor, is better.

Keeping oxygen levels stable is usually done by nurses adjusting the oxygen levels by hand (manual control). There is also equipment available that can do this automatically (servo control). It is not known which is best.

Research suggests that different automated devices control oxygen effectively as measured by the readings from their internal oxygen saturation monitoring systems. When compared to free-standing saturation monitors there appears to be variations in measured oxygen levels between devices. This could have important clinical implications.

This study aims to show the different achieved oxygen levels when babies are targeted to a set target range. Babies in the study will have both a saturation monitor and a transcutaneous oxygen monitor at the same time. Both types of monitor have been in long term use in neonatal units.

For a period of 12 hours, each baby will have their oxygen adjusted automatically using two different internal oxygen monitoring technologies (6 hours respectively). The investigators will compare the range of oxygen levels that are seen between the two oxygen saturation monitoring technologies.

The investigators will study babies born at less than 30 weeks gestation, who are at least 2 days old, on nasal high flow and still require added oxygen.

Presently oxygen is titrated against saturation (SpO2) by manual adjustment. Automated or servo-control systems have been developed that result in tighter control of SpO2 and more time spent in the intended target range. These systems are already in clinical use. Automated systems produce quite large fluctuations in fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2) in order to keep SpO2 in range. It is possible that this could result in short periods of high or low oxygen tension (PO2) that are undetectable using saturation monitoring. Studies to date have examined the effects of manual and automated (servo) oxygen targeting on SpO2 but not on transcutaneous oxygen tension (TcPO2).

Research suggests that individual servo control devices control oxygen effectively as measured by the readings obtained from their internal SpO2 monitoring system. The device the investigators intend to study is available with two different oximeter monitoring systems. When compared to a separate free-standing SpO2 monitor the devices have a systematic bias in the clinically targeted range. Consequently, this could allow variations between infants in oxygenation large enough to influence important clinical outcome to go unrecognised.

There is a need to determine the achieved SpO2 and TcPO2 distributions associated with the use of different automated control systems as a first step in planning future trials. When this is measured over a small number of hours it is not anticipated that this would have an influence on clinical outcome.

This study is a prospective, single centre, randomised crossover trial of two different internal oximeter monitoring systems in an automated (servo) control device - IntellO2 (Vapotherm, USA) - delivering nasal high flow employing automated oxygen titration. Each infant will act as their own control. Infants born at less than 30 weeks gestation, greater than 48 hour of age and receiving supplementary oxygen will be eligible for inclusion.

The study will be undertaken in the Neonatal Unit at the Simpson Centre for Reproductive Health at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.

Total study time is 12 hours for each infant. Infants will be randomised to commence on either Masimo oximetry or Nellcor oximetry using the Oxygen Assist Module (OAM), IntellO2 Vapotherm device. SpO2 (range 90-95%) will be continuously monitored on a second pulse oximetry probe connected to a bedside multiparameter monitor as per normal standard of care.

Additional monitoring will be carried out as shown below:

1. TcPO2 monitoring
2. FiO2 monitoring
3. Heart rate monitoring (used to validate SpO2 readings)
4. Arterial gas sampling (only if conducted by the direct care team as part of the routine care of the infant; no extra blood samples will be taken as part of the study)

FiO2 will be adjusted by the respiratory support device which has integrated automated oxygen control, set to maintain a SpO2 target range of 90-95%.The IntellO2 device uses Precision Flow technology (IntellO2, Vapotherm, USA). By means of a modified closed-loop algorithm, the devise uses MasimoSET or Nellcor pulse oximetry to target a user-set SpO2 value.

SpO2 readings will be downloaded directly from the multiparameter patient monitor. SpO2 will be measured using a Phillips MX500 multiparameter monitor (Phillips, Germany, CE 0366).TcPO2 will be measured using a SenTec Digital Monitoring System with OxiVent sensor (SenTec AG, Switzerland, European patent No. 1535055, CE 0120). Both monitors are routinely used in clinical practice. Transcutaneous data will be recorded contemporaneously and the site of the transcutaneous probe will be rotated on each infant every 2 hours. 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.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Infants born at less than 30 weeks gestation
2. Infants greater than 48 hours of age
3. Infants who are receiving supplementary oxygen
4. Person with parental responsibility able to give consent

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Congenital anomalies that would prevent targeting SpO2 to 90-95% (e.g. cardiac defects)
2. Clinical condition of an infant would impair accurateTcPO2 measurement (e.g. impaired perfusion or requirement of inotropic or vasopressor support)
3. Parent/person with parental responsibility unable to give informed consent on behalf of the infant
4. Infants born less than 22 weeks gestation