Abstract
Recent studies in infants have demonstrated substantial reduction in minute ventilation during oral feeding. The aim of the present study was to determine the incidence of cyanosis and bradycardia during oral feeding as a result of the reduction in minute ventilation or apnea. Heart rate, sucking pressure, respiratory efforts and airflow were monitored continuously during feeding in 50 term neonates (mean birth weight 3.5 kg, gestational age 39.7 weeks) in the first week of life. Bradycardia (≤100/min) occurred in 9 (18%) infants during the continuous sucking phase of oral feeding. Six of these episodes were preceded by apnea and the remaining 3 episodes were associated with hypopnea (marked reduction in minute ventilation). Airway obstruction occurred during most of the apneic episodes (5/6) and two resulted in cyanosis. The apnea and bradycardia resolved spontaneously with continued feeding in all except one infant. The only intervention performed was discontinuation of feeding in this infant. No episodes of isolated bradycardia or aspiration (associated with coughing and/or choking) was seen in any of the infants monitored. Our results suggest that apnea and transient bradycardia occur more frequently than previously recognized in term infants during oral feeding. This presumably reflects the inability of some infants in coordinating the feeding and breathing patterns during the first week of life and should be considered normal unless it persists beyond the neonatal period. Supported by grants by NIH (HL-01156) and March of Dimes (5-426).
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Mathew, O., Clark, M. & Pronske, M. 1453 APNEA AND BRADYCARDIA DURING ORAL FEEDING IN TERM NEONATES. Pediatr Res 19, 353 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198504000-01477
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198504000-01477