Premature babies could survive longer if given more oxygen: Aussie researchers

More premature babies could survive past two years if their oxygen levels were kept in the top half of the previously accepted range, new Australian research released on Thursday suggests.

Prior to these findings, the world's Neonatologists had previously set a target of between 85 and 95 percent oxygen saturation in pre-mature baby during care. Below 85 percent increased the likelihood of neurologic damage, and above 95 percent increases the risk of eye damage or blindness.

However, the latest study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine on Thursday, showed that targeting an oxygen saturation below 90 percent with the use of current techniques in extremely pre-term infants was associated with an increased risk of death.

According to the research trial, the risk of death by age two among infants born before 28 weeks' gestation is up to 45 percent higher when they receive targeted oxygen saturation in the range of 85-90 percent compared to 91-95 percent.

"This evidence will help prevent thousands of deaths world-wide each year," co-principle investigator, University of Sydney Professor of Neonatal Medicine, William Tarnow-Mordi said in a statement.

"Now more trials are urgently needed to improve the quality of survival of premature babies."

The Australian and UK trial of 2,108 cases, conducted by the BOOST-II Collaborative Groups, confirmed results in a similar study in the United States. Meanwhile three other trials are taking place in Canada, the U.S. and New Zealand, with the combined results expected to be released later in 2016. Endit