Conclusion
Supplemental oxygen is one of the most commonly used medications in the intensive care nursery. When not delivered through a mechanical ventilator or a CPAP device, oxygen can be delivered effectively through a variety of mechanisms. The most common techniques include nasal cannulas and oxygen hoods. However, new incubator technology now permits flooding the infant’s incubator with tightly servocontrolled oxygen that can also be heated and humidified. Each of the oxygen delivery techniques discussed here has advantages and disadvantages, and all should be available to meet the varying needs of infants. The decision of which technique to used should, of course, be based on the infant’s needs, and the nurse should be aware of the impact of these modalities on both the infant and the family.