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In a chart review for infants with bronchiolitis who presented to a Denver pediatric emergency network (altitude, 1600 meters) and required supplemental oxygen, investigators evaluated use of home oxygen therapy. Per institutional protocol, previously healthy infants aged 3 to 18 months were eligible for home therapy if after an 8-hour observation period they required oxygen at ≤0.5 L/minute to maintain oxygen saturation ≥90% while awake, asleep, and feeding. The analysis included younger patients (1–3 months) who were discharged on oxygen therapy despite not meeting age criteria.
Of 3983 patients with 4194 episodes of bronchiolitis, 57% were discharged on room air, 15% were discharged on oxygen, and 28% were admitted. The subsequent admissi…