Objectives To assess the potential effect of two guideline discharge oxygen saturation (SpO₂) recommendations (≥90% and ≥94%) in recovering bronchiolitis.

Methods and patients Infants aged up to 18 months requiring therapeutic oxygen for SpO₂ (≤93%) had SpO₂ assessed in air every 2 h. Time from admission to re-establish feeding (>75% normal) and for SpO₂ to become stable for at least 4 h at ≥90% and ≥94% were noted.

Results 68 infants, median age 14 weeks, were included. Feeding problems resolved at a median of 11 h (inter-quartile range, IQR 0–47). SpO₂ became stable for at least 4 h at 17 h (IQR 0–49) for ≥90% and 63 h (IQR 34–105) for ≥94%. Time for infants to achieve a stable SpO₂≥90% and resolve feeding difficulties was a median of 22 h (IQR 7–39 h) sooner than the equivalent for stable SpO₂≥94%.

Conclusions Accepting lower SpO₂ at discharge could significantly reduce length of stay, but require the clinical and safety effects to be studied.