Too low oxygen saturation after bronchitis
November 22, 2014 | 35,00 EUR | answered by Dr. med. Ralf Berg
We have been in a clinic with our 7-month-old son for 9 days due to bronchitis. A month ago, we also had to spend 9 days here, first due to bronchitis which then turned into pneumonia. The doctors say that the recovery is progressing. The main problem was and still is that our son does not have sufficient oxygen saturation while sleeping. The levels sometimes drop to 87. Our questions: Over what period of time and at what levels should we expect damage? Are there any therapy options other than inhalation with Sultanol to support his recovery? Is it possible to monitor oxygen saturation and administer oxygen at home, i.e. can the equipment be prescribed and then rented for the duration of treatment? We have private insurance. Thank you in advance.
Good evening,
I am happy to answer your questions. A permanent injury is not expected in 87% of cases. Values below 80 can be problematic if they persist for a longer period of time (days). Generally, the brain's tolerance for hypoxia is greater at rest or during sleep than in the awake state, so there are still reserves available. It is also known that even longer periods of hypoxia, such as in drowning accidents with up to 60 minutes of cardiac arrest successfully resuscitated without cognitive deficits, have been survived until early childhood (aided by hypothermia during drowning). You do not need to worry about this.
Regarding question 2: In infants, the lungs are not fully developed, which can be noticeable especially during infections with a longer recovery time. Damage to the bronchial mucosa usually heals completely, but it is not known how to accelerate this process.
For question 3: Whether the devices will be covered by insurance needs to be clarified on a case-by-case basis. However, due to the limited physiological reserves of an infant, the respiratory situation should be stable before discharge from the hospital. Anything else would put your child at risk. Additionally, the placement of sensors on a child's hand is very delicate and often leads to incorrect measurements. I strongly advise against experimenting at home. Administering oxygen to infants is also not without risks, as excessive oxygen saturation can damage the delicate mucous membranes. In the hospital, this is monitored regularly with blood gas analysis during oxygen therapy. (Blood is taken from the earlobe and immediately analyzed in a blood gas analysis device. Such devices cost several thousand euros, require maintenance, and interpretation is a medical task).
Therefore, it is better to stay in the hospital until the condition is fully healed.
Best regards,
Dr. R. Berg
