Objective To evaluate the effect of implementing automated oxygen control as routine care in maintaining oxygen saturation (SpO₂) within target range in preterm infants.

Methods Infants <30 weeks gestation in Leiden University Medical Centre before and after the implementation of automated oxygen control were compared. The percentage of time spent with SpO₂ within and outside the target range (90–95%) was calculated. SpO₂ values were collected every minute and included for analysis when infants received extra oxygen.

Results In a period of 9 months, 42 preterm infants (21 manual, 21 automated) were studied. In the automated period, the median (IQR) time spent with SpO₂ within target range increased (manual vs automated: 48.4 (41.5–56.4)% vs 61.9 (48.5–72.3)%; p<0.01) and time SpO₂ >95% decreased (41.9 (30.6–49.4)% vs 19.3 (11.5–24.5)%; p<0.001). The time SpO₂<90% increased (8.6 (7.2–11.7)% vs 15.1 (14.0–21.1)%; p<0.0001), while SpO₂<80% was similar (1.1 (0.4–1.7)% vs 0.9 (0.5–2.1)%; ns).

Conclusions During oxygen therapy, preterm infants spent more time within the SpO₂ target range after implementation of automated oxygen control, with a significant reduction in hyperoxaemia, but not hypoxaemia.