Cerebral and splanchnic oxygenation during automated control of inspired oxygen (FiO2) in preterm infants

Objectives: Our aim in this study was to assess the effect of the Predictive Intelligent Control of Oxygenation (PRICO®) system on cerebral (rSO2C) and splanchnic (rSO2S) oxygenation in a cohort of preterm infants with frequent desaturations. Methods: Twenty infants with gestational age <32 weeks (n = 20) were assigned in random sequence to 12 h of automated or manual adjustment of FiO2. Over this period, they were studied continuously by near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). Results: We found that rSO2C [68.0% (60.5%–74.7%) vs. 68.5% (62%–72%); p =.824] and rSO2S [27.0% (17.3%–45.7%) vs. 27.0% (15%–53%); p =.878] were similar during automatic and manual control of FiO2. Time spent with SpO2 90%–95% was higher during the automatic than manual control of FiO2, while time spent with SpO2 <80% or >95% was lower. Conclusions: Automated control of FiO2 with PRICO® system did not improve brain and splanchnic oxygenation in comparison with manual control in a cohort of preterm infants, but it significantly decreased SpO2 fluctuations and limited the duration of both hypoxemia and hyperoxemia.