Oxygen concentration gradients in the special care nursery

L. D. Lilien and T. F. Yeh

Room-air oxygen concentration in the respiratory care areas of our Special Care Nursery ranged from 20.9% to 24.8%. Calculated oxygen concentrations in our respiratory care areas, assuming an air turnover of five or 12 air changes per hour, were frequently far below observed concentrations. This indicated that ventilation in our respiratory care areas provided below minimum recommended number of air changes per hour. Therefore, in respiratory care areas in older structures with poor ventilation or with ventilatory system breakdown, environmental oxygen should be monitored.