Does closed-loop automated oxygen control reduce the duration of supplementary oxygen treatment and the amount of time spent in hyperoxia? A randomised controlled trial in ventilated infants born at or near term

BACKGROUND: Ventilated infants frequently require supplemental oxygen, but its use should be monitored carefully due to associated complications. The achievement of oxygen saturation (SpO(2)) targets can be challenging as neonates experience frequent fluctuations of their oxygen levels that further increase the risk of complications. Closed-loop automated oxygen control systems (CLAC) improve achievement of oxygen saturation targets, reduce hyperoxaemic episodes and facilitate weaning of the inspired oxygen concentration in ventilated infants born at or near term. This study investigates whether CLAC compared with manual oxygen control reduces the time spent in hyperoxia and the overall duration of supplemental oxygen treatment in ventilated infants born at or above 34 weeks gestation. METHODS: This randomised controlled trial performed at a single tertiary neonatal unit is recruiting 40 infants born at or above 34 weeks of gestation and within 24 h of initiation of mechanical ventilation. Infants are randomised to CLAC or manual oxygen control from recruitment till successful extubation. The primary outcome is the percentage of time spent in hyperoxia (SpO(2) > 96%). The secondary outcomes are the overall duration of supplementary oxygen treatment, the percentage of time spent with an oxygen requirement above thirty per cent, the number of days on mechanical ventilation and the length of neonatal unit stay. The study is performed following informed parental consent and was approved by the West Midlands-Edgbaston Research Ethics Committee (Protocol version 1.2, 10/11/2022). DISCUSSION: This trial will investigate the effect of CLAC on the overall duration of oxygen therapy and the time spent in hyperoxia. These are important clinical outcomes as hyperoxic injury is related to oxidative stress that can adversely affect multiple organ systems. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.Gov NCT05657795. Registered on 12/12/2022. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13063-023-07415-9.