Case report describes multidisciplinary management of severe postoperative hypoxemia in a former preterm infant

A former 32-week preterm infant experienced severe postoperative hypoxemia after inguinal hernia surgery, with oxygen saturation falling to 29% after extubation, according to a case report in BMC Pediatrics. The report, published as an early-access version on 9 September 2026, retrospectively analyzes the infant’s clinical course and the multidisciplinary response. After transfer to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, the stridor resolved, no further hypoxemic episodes were recorded, and the infant was discharged on day 8. The report also notes that no events were reported at one-week follow-up.

The infant was admitted on 18 June 2025. Following extubation, oxygen saturation initially declined to 75–78% and recovered to 99% with mask ventilation. During a subsequent failed reintubation attempt, saturation fell again to 29% and improved after another period of mask ventilation. Spontaneous breathing resumed within 30 minutes. The clinical data were retrospectively analyzed, and the abstract reports that the multidisciplinary team applied airway-crisis management, stepwise oxygen therapy, glucocorticoid treatment, and family empowerment. A structured “warning-intervention-evaluation” closed-loop model was also implemented, with high-flow nasal cannula initiated within 30 minutes after extubation.

The case report identifies several observations from the episode. The recorded response time of the multidisciplinary team was less than one minute. The combination of corticosteroids, nebulization and high-flow nasal cannula was temporally associated with the avoidance of reintubation in this case, but the abstract does not establish that the intervention bundle caused that outcome. A structured seizure-monitoring protocol was temporally associated with recognition of neurological symptoms within 10 minutes of onset. Seizures were controlled, and computed tomography and electroencephalography results were reported as normal. The infant was discharged on day 8, and no events were reported at one-week follow-up.

Because this was a single case report based on retrospective clinical data, the findings describe the management of one former preterm infant and cannot establish effectiveness in a wider population. The authors state that the closed-loop model and early high-flow nasal cannula strategy may provide a reference pathway for perioperative care, while emphasizing that larger studies are required for validation. The abstract also identifies the absence of long-term neurodevelopmental follow-up as a limitation, so the report does not establish long-term neurological recovery. The published version is subject to further edits and is to be replaced automatically by the final Version of Record.

Subject of Research: Retrospective case report of multidisciplinary care for severe postoperative hypoxemia in a former preterm infant

Article Title: Multidisciplinary rescue and evidence-based nursing intervention for severe postoperative hypoxemia in a former preterm infant: a case report

Article References: Shao, Y., Hu, J., Zhang, G., Chen, M., & Xu, L. (2026). Multidisciplinary rescue and evidence-based nursing intervention for severe postoperative hypoxemia in a former preterm infant: a case report. BMC Pediatrics. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-026-07682-w

Image Credits: AI Generated

DOI: 10.1186/s12887-026-07682-w

Keywords: case report, postoperative hypoxemia, preterm infant, airway crisis, high-flow nasal cannula, multidisciplinary care, seizure monitoring, oxygen saturation, Multidisciplinary, rescue, evidence-based, nursing