Considerations for future studies on the effect of late phase oxygen strategies on retinopathy of prematurity

Front Pediatr. 2022 Oct 24:10:975613. doi: 10.3389/fped.2022.975613. eCollection 2022.

Abstract

Strategies to ensure high intraocular oxygen delivery to the developing retina after 32 weeks gestational age, such as higher saturation targets and/or higher hemoglobin levels, are hypothesized to prevent ophthalmological treatment for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). This short report summarizes the current evidence of these strategies, and discusses possibilities of future studies. A large sample size would be required and therefore the feasibility of a future randomized controlled trial is questioned.

Keywords: hemoglobin; oxygen; prematurity; retinopathy; saturation; study design.