Frequency and outcomes of cumulative excess oxygen exposure in ventilated pediatric ICU patients.

Objective: To determine the frequency of cumulative excess oxygen exposure (CEOE) and its association with mortality in ventilated children. Study Design: Retrospective Cohort study. Setting: Pediatric ICU of Sindh Institute of Child Health and Neonatology, Karachi. Period: January 2023 to June 2023. Methods: The study sample size of 200 was determined using the OpenEpi sample size calculator employing a non-probability consecutive sampling method, and included children (1 month–15 years) admitted who required invasive ventilation ≥24 hours. CEOE was defined as mean hourly FiO₂ >0.21 with SpO₂ ≥95% in the first 24 hours of ventilation. Patients were stratified into quartiles: hypoxemia (SpO₂ 21–30%, Q2: 30–45%, Q3: 45–60%, Q4: ≥60%). Variables included hourly FiO₂ >21% with SpO₂ >95%, clinical parameters, admitting diagnosis, length of stay, comorbidities, and outcome (survival or exitus). Statistical analysis was performed using Chi-Square and Mann-Whitney U tests, with p