Nursing Procedures and Alterations in Transcutaneous Oxygen Tension in Premature Infants

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Abstract
The study evaluated the effects of three routine nursing procedures-suctioning, repositioning, and performing a heelstick-oln blood oxygen levels in premature infants, using a transcutaneous oxygen (TcpO2) monitor. Twenty-five infants with respiratory distress syndrome were monitored for three hours during which all three procedures were performed. Continuous TcpO2 records were used for measurement of baesline tcpO2, degree and duration of TcpO2 changes, length of procedural time, and rest time prior to procedures. Data were analyzed to determine if TcpO2 was altered during routine procedures, and if the degree of change was affected by length of procedure of length of rest prior to a procedure. Degree of TcpO2 change was analyzed in relation to lenggh ot time taken to recover from procedure. TcpO2 was decreased significantly during suctioning and repositioning but not during heelstick. The three procedures resulted in different degrees of change in TcpO2. suctioning elicited the greatest decrease, followed by repositioning then heelstick. Recovery time was related to the degree of change in TcpO2, suggesting that it was the type of procedure that determined infant response.

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