Abstract
M.Cur.
Neonates born with respiratory distress require supplementary oxygen. In some cases it
is necessary to ventilate these neonates in order to obtain adequate tissue oxygenation.
Due to the potential complications of mechanical ventilation it is necessary to extubate
the neonate as soon as possible after intubation and administer supplementary oxygen by
an alternate method. Any form of oxygen therapy carries the risk of oxygen toxicity. It is
therefore essential that the method of oxygen therapy opted for after extubation will
result in the infant being weaned in the shortest time possible.
In the two NICUs from which the sample was taken for this study, neonates are currently
extubated and placed either in a head box, on nasal CP AP or on a nasal cannula, these
being the methods used to administer oxygen to a neonate. The decision regarding the
method of choice is currently directed by customary practices rather than physiological
variables as indicators/criteria of effectiveness.
The questions that arise from the research problem are as follows:
• Which physiological variables should be considered when faced with the decision
regarding the method of oxygen therapy to initiate after extubation of a neonate?
• Are there any differences in the effectiveness of the two methods of oxygen
therapy, namely headbox and nasal cannula, after extubation of a neonate?
The purpose of this study was to compare two methods of oxygen therapy, after
extubation of the neonate with respiratory distress syndrome, in an attempt to formulate
guidelines; based on physiological variables as criteria/indicators of effectiveness. After
analyzing the data, as described in Chapter 4, it became evident that it would not be
possible to formulate guidelines. Therefore only a comparison was done between the
two methods of oxygen therapy (headbox and nasal cannula,) based on both biographical
and physiological variables as criteria/indicators, to determine whether there were any
significant differences in the effectiveness of the two methods after extubation of the
neonate.