Abstract
The number of NICU infants discharged on Theo and/or monitors has been increasing. Of 68 graduates in 1983-1984 with BW ≤1200 gm, 23 were discharged on therapy. We have compared the population discharged on monitors/Theo (treated) with the remaining ≤1200 gm graduates (untreated). Both groups had similar PCA at birth (treated 28.6 wks vs untreated 29.1 wks, N.S.) and at discharge (treated 41.7 wks vs untreated 40.1 wks, N.S.). Treated infants were more often male (70% vs 40%) and not Black (52% vs 31%). IVH did not differentiate treated (8/23) vs untreated (19/42), nor did chronic lung disease (13/23 treated vs 17/42 untreated). For the 23 treated patients, 19 discharge pneumograms (PCG) were evaluated, 7 while on Theo. Five were normal/borderline; 14 were abnormal. For untreated patients, 24 PCGs were available, all normal/borderline off Theo. Of treated infants PCGs, 13/19 had A6D≥0.5%, 9/19 had bradycardia, 5/19 had PB>3.5% and 4/19 had apnea ≥15 seconds. Five studies had 1 abnormality, 7 had 2, and 4 had 3. With the increasing use of PCGs, more infants born in 1984 were treated when compared to 1983 (11/45 in 1983 vs 12/20 in 1984, p<0.05). One death occurred in an untreated black female with a normal PCG prior to discharge. We conclude for LBW infants: 1) the demographically at-risk population for apnea/bradycardia at term is the white male; 2) neither chronic lung disease nor IVH necessarily lead to abnormal term PCGs and 3) the use of the PCG at discharge leads to an increase in monitoring and/or Theo treatment.
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Needelroan, H., Nelson, M., Bozynski, M. et al. 1467 CHARACTERISTICS OF LBW INFANTS DISCHARGED ON MONITORS/THEOPHYLLINE. Pediatr Res 19, 355 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198504000-01491
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198504000-01491