Oxygen therapy: Do's and don'ts – evidence based recommendations

Oxygen is probably the most often used therapeutic agent in neonatal medicine. Unfortunately, probably also the most misused therapeutic agent resulting in unhealthy outcomes amongst neonatal survivors. Results from basic, translational and clinical research has amassed reasonable amount of evidence to indicate that there is an urgent need to change our practices with regards oxygen administration to neonates. It needs to be realised that oxygen is a drug and any drug therapy needs to be initiated only when indicated as well as needs to be monitored appropriately. This article deals with who, what, why, when & how much of oxygenating newborns.