Acta paediatrica
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Oxygen saturation is frequently monitored with pulse oximetry to assess vital signs in critically ill patients. Optimally, pulse oximetry closely tracks arterial oxygen tension (PaO2 ), which provides guidance in oxygen titration. We investigated whether monitoring peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2 ) could accurately guide oxygen titration in newborn infants. ⋯ Based on arterial blood gas analyses as reference, pulse oximetry readings did not fulfil the performance requirements for titrating oxygen in neonatal patients.