Nasal Catheter Oxygen Therapy for Infants

Abstract

The unstable oxygen concentration afforded by the oxygen tent and head hood during routine care, as well as the limitations placed upon mobility of infants requiring prolonged oxygen therapy, prompted a trial of the nasal catheter as an alternative delivery device. Transcutaneous PO₂ was monitored before and after catheter placement in six infants during the following activity states: (1) sleeping; (2) awake and quiet; (3) awake and active; (4) crying; and (5) feeding. The nasal catheter provided oxygenation comparable to that with the oxygen tent and head hood during the sleeping, awake, and crying states, and provided better oxygenation (P <0.001) than a conventional method of holding an oxygen line to the infant's face during feeding. Dramatic improvement in motor and mental development was observed in two infants after 3 and 5 months of nasal catheter oxygen administration. Two trials were terminated because of excessive nasal discharge, inflammation of nasal mucosa, and frequent catheter dislodgment. The nasal catheter, when tolerated well, provides important advantages over traditional methods of delivering long-term, low-flow oxygen therapy for infants.