Abstract
In order to assess the occurrance of feeding related abnormal breathing patterns and hypoxemia beyond the neonatal period polygraphia recordings incl.tcpO2 were obtained in 23 infants during feeding and sleep also: 18 preterms, gest. age 30(27-36)wks., 14 after resp. distress syndrom(ROS) and 4 after apnoea of prematurity(AOP) as well as 5 fullterms after a life threatening event related to feeding in 4 infants,postnatal age 1-13 wks.
Results: In preterms,feeding related decreases of tcpO2 (up to 80%) were found in 12(66%), bradycardia and abnormal breathing patterns(period.apnoeaU), mixed apnoea (2), cyanosis(2)) as well as abnormal sleep apnoea (100% period.breathing(2), obstructive & mixed apnoea(4)) in 6 of them(50%). Postnatal age in infants with and without feeding hypoxemia was 10 and 12.5 wks.respectively. In fullterms,decrease of tcpO2 under feeding(up to 22%) occurred in 4, resp. dysrhythmia in 1 and abnormal sleep apnoea in 3: excessive period. breathing(2), obstr. & mixed apnoea(1). Consequences were: tube feeding(5), more frequent feedings(7) with monit. tcpO2, suppl. oxygen during feedings(1). In infants with tcpO2 <40 mm Hg abnormal findings had disappeared within 2-5 wks. Conclusions: preterms recovering from ROS or AOI may have feeding related hypoxemia and resp. pattern abnormalities even beyond 38 wks. conc. age, which will not be detected withoutmonitoring pO2 (pr O2sat.). These findings seem to reflect a developmental deficit in neuronal coordination of breathing and feeding, which under profound hypoxemia may progress to asphyxia, and cause residual morbidity. (*) supported by DFG grant Be 921/1-3
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Bentele, K., Albani, M. & Schulte, F. 37 ABNORMAL BREATHING PATTERNS AND HYPOXEMIA ASSOCIATED WITH FEEDING BEYOND THE NEONATAL PERIOD. Pediatr Res 24, 267 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198808000-00063
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198808000-00063