Introduction:

In newborns, oxygen levels in the blood reach values similar to those of the adult 10 minutes after birth.

Objective:

To determine the variations in pre- and postductal SpO2 in the first and 48 hours of extrauterine life and to analyze its response in neonates from Mexico City with administration of air and oxygen.

Methods:

Prospective, analytical study in neonates who were resuscitated in a hospital in Mexico City. Neonates with adequate weight for gestational age, obtained by cesarean section or vaginal route, who received the basic evaluation maneuvers, were included. The administration of oxygen and pre- and postductal saturation at birth and at 48 hours were recorded. Descriptive analysis and differences were performed; matched t-test and repeated measures ANOVA.

Results:

We included 146 neonates, with mean age 37 ± 0.1 weeks of gestation, mean weight of 2,942 ± 35 g; 76 (52.1%) were male. When performing the comparative analysis between patients with and without oxygen, and way of birth between the different saturated segments, no statistically significant differences were found.

Conclusion:

The birth pathway and the application of oxygen in resuscitation do not condition differences in oxygen saturation in neonates.