Abstract
During behavioural active sleep (AS) as compared to quiet sleep (QS), a 30.% decrease in lung volume has been reported in term newborns. This study was designed to determine whether such changes in lung volume are related to changes in sleep states or to changes in breathing pattern. The role of maturation was also assessed. We used the helium dilution method to measure FRC. Neurophysiologic criteria were used to identify sleep states. Movements of chest and abdomen were monitored.Results (x̄ ± SD; FRC=mean of 2 or more measurements) in 26 healthy newborn infants are as follows :
FRC increased with GA (p< 0.02). Using ANOVA, we could not show any significant difference between FRC during AS vs QS. In 7 out of these 26 newborn infants, FRC happened to be measured when breathing showed two completely opposite patterns : OUT of phase and IN-phase breathing. FRC "OUT" (1.38 ± 0.25 ml/cm) was lower than FRC "IN" (1.56 ± 0.25 ml/cm) (p < 0.001). Our results suggest that in the healthy newborn infant during sleep the observed changes in lung volume are related to changes in the breathing pattern and not to changes in sleep states per se. Lung volume increases steadily with maturation.
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Walti, H., Radvanyi, M., Chaussain, M. et al. INFLUENCE OF BREATHING PATTERN, SLEEP STATES, AND MATURATION ON FUNCTIONAL RESIDUAL CAPACITY (FRC) IN NEWBORN INFANTS. Pediatr Res 18 (Suppl 4), 409 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198404001-01895
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198404001-01895