Abstract
There are only few data on facial motor behaviour in very immature preterms. We performed continuous observations for resp. 1 hour in 15 preterms (gestational age 25-28 wk) 3 times a week up to a conceptional age of 31 wk. Total time of observation was 189 h. We established 27 different items representing 99 % of all movements. Median frequency of movements was 244/h (range 39-958). It did not correlate with gestational age and showed marked intra- and interindividual differences. Ocular (32 %) and oral movements (29 %) were the most frequent. However, each patient showed clear individual preference to certain items. Blood levels of phenobarbital (0-130 ug/ml) surprisingly did not significantly correlate with frequency of facial movements. Prognostic value of frequency of facial movements was poor, but in 3 of 7 preterms with bad outcome striking monotony of facial movements with predominant oral movements (> 50 %) could be observed.
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Jorch, G., Barginda, M. & Rabe, H. 53 FACIAL MOTOR BEHAVIOUR OF VERY IMMATURE PRETERMS. Pediatr Res 24, 269 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198808000-00079
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198808000-00079