The Effect of Oxygen Exposure During Newborn Resuscitation on Lung Injury

Hypothesis: In this feasibility study, hyperoxemia, as approximated by transcutaneous hemoglobin saturation with oxygen (Sp02), at the time of birth will cause sustained pulmonary oxidative stress as demonstrated by elevation of pulmonary protein carbonyl. Furthermore, this oxidative stress will be directly proportional to the imposed oxygen-burden during resuscitation at the time of birth. This study will give us information regarding the magnitude of protein carbonyl elevation in the preterm infant. With these results we will be able to 1. establish the technique for the running or protein carbonyl assays and 2. calculate an appropriate sample size for a future randomized control trial.