從氧化壓力重新思考早產兒氧氣的使用

Rethinking Oxygen Therapy for Premature Infants in Terms of Oxidative Stress

氧氣治療是在加護中心的早產兒最常接受的處置之一。然而，由於早產兒體內之抗氧化機制的發展尚未成熟，使得早產兒無法產生足量之抗氧化酵素及抗氧化合物來對抗因為氧氣治療而產生過多的氧自由基，進而產生氧化壓力造成傷害。例如有些早產兒的合併症：早產兒視網膜病變、慢性肺疾病、腦室內出血、以及白質軟化症等，被認為與續發性之氧損傷有關。本文的目的是由氧化壓力的角度來探討氧氣與早產兒合併症之關係，並針對出生時急救及出生後在加護病房照護兩個階段，討論如何在早產兒的氧氣治療中給予安全合理的氧氣濃度，提供在新生兒加護中心工作的護理人員於早產兒氧氣的使用上有正確的觀念及作法，以減少因氧氣治療而造成的併發症，進而提升這些巴掌仙子的健康及生活品質。

Oxygen therapy is one of the most common interventions in the care of premature infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Premature infants are at risk of oxidant injury due to inadequate anti-oxidant defenses. Common complications of premature infants such as retinopathy, chronic lung disease, intraventricular hemorrhaging, and periventricular leukomalacia may also be associated with secondary oxidant injuries. This article explores relationships between oxygen and complications linked to premature delivery. It also outlines correct concepts and practices of oxygen therapy for NICU nurses to reduce the oxygen-related complications associated with premature births and promote the health and life quality of premature infants.