Automated oxygen control: better targeting, no outcome win yet

The largest trial yet found automated FiO₂ control safe and effective at saturation targeting—but no significant reduction in death, NEC, BPD, or severe ROP.

THE HOT TAKE

A cleaner saturation trace is a process win. It is not automatically a clinical-outcome win.

The largest clinical trial of automated FiO₂ control to date randomized 1,082 infants born at 23+0 to 27+6 weeks across 32 NICUs. The primary composite of death, NEC, BPD, or severe ROP occurred in 39% with automated control and 41% with routine manual control: adjusted OR 0.90 (97.5% CI 0.65–1.24; P=0.47).