What is the recommended action if a child's oxygen saturation is below 88% during a PAP study?

Initiating supplemental oxygen is the appropriate response when a child's oxygen saturation falls below 88% during a Positive Airway Pressure (PAP) study. This threshold indicates a significant risk for hypoxemia, and addressing it promptly is crucial for the child's safety and well-being.

Supplemental oxygen will help to restore adequate oxygen levels in the bloodstream, addressing the immediate concern of low oxygen saturation. In pediatric patients, maintaining optimal oxygen saturation is critical, as they are more vulnerable to the effects of hypoxia.

While adjusting the pressure settings, such as increasing the IPAP or decreasing the EPAP, might seem like attractive options to improve breathing dynamics, these actions may not directly address the low oxygen saturation issue. Monitoring without intervention is not advisable when oxygen levels are critically low, as it could lead to further complications. Therefore, the best course of action is to provide supplemental oxygen to ensure the child's oxygen levels are stabilized effectively.