Comparison of Average Blood Gas Parameters Between Arterial Blood & Capillary Blood in Neonates: A Protocol for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Blood gas sampling and acid-base determination are essential tools in evaluating, managing, and monitoring neonates with respiratory or circulatory issues, especially those receiving respiratory support. Arterial Blood Gas & Capillary Blood Gas are two types of blood gas tests done in the neonatal ICU. Arterial punctures are painful and may cause arterial injury, thrombosis with distal ischemia, haemorrhage and aneurysm formation. Capillary blood gas samples are easier to obtain and are a less invasive way of evaluating blood gas parameters in neonates. This study protocol outlines the methodology for collating evidence from multiple studies that compare capillary blood gas and arterial blood gas and will help to find out whether capillary blood gas could be used as a reliable alternative to arterial blood gas. The review will retrieve information from three major databases: PubMed, Scopus & Web of Science. Literature screening and data extraction will be completed by two authors independently. Authors will use Newcastle-Ottawa Scale & Joanna Brigg’s Institute critical appraisal checklist to assess the included studies. Results will be visually represented through a forest plot, incorporating individual effect estimates, pooled estimates, and 95% confidence intervals. The EZR or STATA Software will be used to perform the meta-analysis. This systematic review will summarise the available evidence and contribute to our understanding in the controversy arising from conflicting studies on the reliability of capillary blood samples as a substitute to arterial samples. Key words: Blood gases; Meta-analysis; Neonates; Systematic review, pH, PCO2, PO2