Abstract â–¡ 72

Patients : In two patients, both aged 6 weeks, polysomnography was performed respectively for control of apnea of prematurity and because of parents worried about SIDS. Prolonged central apneas and bradycardias were documented. The first patient did not show any signs of upper airway infection at clinical examination at that moment, while the second patient only had signs of upper airway infection. They were further hospitalised and both developed a documented RSV-bronchiolitis 24-48 hours later.

Methods : Polysomnography with heart rate, ECG, thoracic and abdominal respiration, nasal flow, EMG of the chin, EOG and EEG was performed. Subsequently home-monitoring with QRS-complexes, heart rate and respiration was started for a period of three months.

Results : The apneas were predominantly central apneas, without EMG activity on the chin EMG. There were no movements like sucking or moving of the tongue which suggest that there were no secretions at that moment. It was however impossible to distinguish central apneas from upper airway reflex apneas. Clinically there were no signs of upper airway infections. Homemonitoring and control polysomnography was performed in the next three months. The alarms were set on apneas > 20 seconds and/or bradycardias < 50/minute. No apneas or bradycardias were found in the three months following the infection.

Conclusion : Apneas can develop in infants 24-48 hours before any clinical signs of RSV-bronchiolitis are seen. The apneas were predominantly of central origin. Follow-up with home monitoring and control polysomnography did not show any apneas or bradycardias after the disease. These patients were not at increased risk for SIDS after the RSV-infection was treated.