Abstract: Objective　To explore the changes of blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) and heart rate (HR) in healthy full-term neonates in plateau area within 1 to 30 minutes after birth. Method　The SpO2 and HR of 194 normal full-term newborns at different altitudes were continuously measured by pulse oximeter 1~30 minutes after birth, and the 5th ~ 95th percentile charts of SpO2 and HR at 1~30 minutes after birth were drawn. The differences were compared among different delivery modes, sexes and altitudes in newborns. Results　One minute after birth, the average SpO2 and HR of newborns were 59%±4% and 135±13 times/min. Then SpO2 gradually increased, reaching 80% at 5 minutes, 89% at 10 minutes and stabilizing at about 95% at 15 minutes. HR stabilized at about 175 times/min 2 minutes after birth. The SpO2 differences of newborns at different altitudes were statistically significant from 1 to 15 minutes after birth (P< 0.001). With the increase of altitude, SpO2 of newborns decreased, and the difference disappeared after 20 minutes. The HR of newborns at different altitudes had significant difference from 1 to 30 minutes after birth (P<0.001), and the the HR increased over the altitude. The trend of SpO2 and HR changes over time from 1 to 30 minutes after birth was different in different delivery modes (F=2.45, 2.09, P< 0.05), but they were similar between different genders (P>0.05). Conclusion　As the altitude increases, the SpO2 from 1 to 10 minutes after birth could be slightly lower than the SpO2 recommended by the asphyxia resuscitation guide, and and it takes longer to rise to 90%. The neonatal HR was lower at the higher altitude. In the plateau area, the performance of asphyxia recovery should be combined with the clinical manifestations, and oxygen should be used cautiously to avoid high oxygen damage.

Key words: oxygen saturation;　heart rate;　plateau;　newborn