Abstract
Fifty-four preterm patients (postconceptional age 36 to 44 weeks), otherwise well and ready for discharge, were identified with persistent symptoms of apnea, bradycardia, and/or cyanosis. At the time of referral, symptoms were primarily sleep-related in 22 (41%), feeding-related in 16 (30%), and both sleep and feed-related in 16 (30%). Polygraphic recordings documented cardiorespiratory abnormalities including: prolonged apnea in 12 (22%), excessive periodic breathing in 4 (7%), bradycardia in 21 (52%), disorganized breathing or increased number of mixed and obstructive respiratory pause in 21 (39%), and elevated CO2 values in 24 (44%). All infants were discharged on home cardiorespiratory monitors. Nineteen (35%) were discharged on xanthines. Twenty-eight (52%) infants had subsequent apnea or bradycardia alarms that self-corrected. Seven (13%) had subsequent serious alarms at home requiring stimulation, but none required CPR. These alarm conditions occurred between 39 and 54 weeks postconceptional age. Only one of the infants with documented prolonged apnea had subsequent alarms requiring intervention. Our data suggest that some preterm infants with persistent symptoms of apnea, bradycardia, and cyanosis are at risk for subsequent serious episodes, and that home monitor observation is a safe alternative to prolonged hospitalization in appropriate families.
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Rosen, C., Glaze, D. & Frost, J. PERSISTENT APNEA IN OLDER PRETERM INFANTS: POLYGRAPHIC STUDIES AND HOME MONITOR FOLLOW-UP. Pediatr Res 18 (Suppl 4), 403 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198404001-01861
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198404001-01861