What are the potential ocular or pulmonary complications of prolonged high FiO2 in neonates?

What are the potential ocular or pulmonary complications of prolonged high FiO2 in neonates?

• A. Glaucoma and cataracts.
• B. Retinopathy of prematurity and oxygen-related lung injury.
• C. Hearing loss and deafness.
• D. Kidney failure.

Answer: (B)

High FiO2 over an extended period can disrupt development in two very sensitive neonatal systems: the eyes and the lungs. In premature babies, the retina is still maturing, and excessive oxygen can blunt normal vessel growth, then trigger abnormal vessel proliferation when oxygen levels fluctuate. This leads to retinopathy of prematurity, which can cause scarring and possible vision loss if not managed. On the lungs, too much oxygen causes oxidative stress and inflammation in the developing airways and alveoli, increasing the risk of oxygen-related lung injury and bronchopulmonary dysplasia, a chronic lung condition common in preterm infants. The other options don’t reflect the typical complications tied to prolonged high oxygen in neonates. Glaucoma and cataracts aren’t classically caused by neonatal high oxygen exposure, and hearing loss or kidney failure aren’t the expected oxygen-related risks in this context.

High FiO2 over an extended period can disrupt development in two very sensitive neonatal systems: the eyes and the lungs. In premature babies, the retina is still maturing, and excessive oxygen can blunt normal vessel growth, then trigger abnormal vessel proliferation when oxygen levels fluctuate. This leads to retinopathy of prematurity, which can cause scarring and possible vision loss if not managed. On the lungs, too much oxygen causes oxidative stress and inflammation in the developing airways and alveoli, increasing the risk of oxygen-related lung injury and bronchopulmonary dysplasia, a chronic lung condition common in preterm infants.

The other options don’t reflect the typical complications tied to prolonged high oxygen in neonates. Glaucoma and cataracts aren’t classically caused by neonatal high oxygen exposure, and hearing loss or kidney failure aren’t the expected oxygen-related risks in this context.