Abstract
We studied the reproducibility of ventilatory response to CO2 in a group of premature infants with real or potential disturbances in the control of ventilation. (Ten infants BW 2.0±0.8 kg, GA 35±4 wks) comprised the test population, 6 with idiopathic apnea, 3 siblings of SIDS, and 1 near miss. The group was examined at 42±6 wks postconceptual age with a computerized waveform analyzer providing ventilatory response data to inhaled CO2. A second test was done 30 minutes after completion of the first.
Significant correlation was found between the slopes, but significant differences were observed between their means(P<0.01) Baseline Ve was significantly lower in the repeat test with six infants starting at a lower level. Seven infants aroused at a lower PCO2 in the second test but the PCO2's at arousal were not different.
It appears that the infants in this study became more sensitive to CO2 in the second test, as suggested by a steeper slope, lower baseline ventilation, and earlier arousal. We postulate that the CO2 challenge of the first test affected the second,and an interval greater than 30 min. may be necessary to duplicate results.
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Fort, M., Marotta, F., Hiatt, I. et al. VENTILATORY RESPONSE TESTING IN PREMATURE INFANTS. Pediatr Res 18 (Suppl 4), 328 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198404001-01409
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198404001-01409