Implementation of an electronic data monitoring system decreases the rate of hyperoxic episodes in premature neonates

To determine whether an electronic data surveillance system, or Data Sniffer (DS), could reduce the rate of hyperoxic episodes (HEs) among premature neonates being managed by a standardized respiratory treatment protocol (RTP).A total of 86 infants born at29 weeks of gestation were included in the study. The rates of HEs were compared among four epochs (E) as follows: E1: no RTP, no DS; E2:with RTP, no DS; E3: with RTP, with DS; E4: with RTP, no DS.After implementing the RTP in E2, the rate of HEs was 44% lower than that of E1. Activating the DS in E3 further reduced HEs by 26%, whereas its deactivation in E4 resulted in a rebound in HEs to baseline rates; P0.0001 for each comparison.The implementation of an electronic data monitoring system was associated with less frequent episodes of hyperoxia among premature neonates.