Abstract
Objective: Heart rate variability (HRV) is widely used as a marker of reactivity to a painful event in preterm and term infants. During transportation, sick neonates are highly exposed to both stationary and impulsive dynamic physical stressors. The aim of the study is to analysis HRV in assessing stress responsiveness during neonatal transport.
Method: Twenty-one newborn infants requiring transportation and nine new-born infants located in a neonatal intensive care unit were observed for the study. The ECG signal was sampled via a cardioscope and stored in a computer. All data was reviewed by an analyst to validate the QRS labeling before the analysis of the time-domain and frequency-domain indices.
Results: The median of the two groups does not differ in terms of gestational age (2000g), birth weight (33 wk) or hour of life (4h). The two main diagnoses were preterm and respiratory distress syndrome.
In static condition, 120570 beat-to-beat intervals were analyzed as compared to 75068 in transport. The mean RR interval was higher in the transport group as indicated by 406 ± 38 ms vs 361 ± 25 ms. All other indices (SDNN, RMSSD, VLF, LF, HF and LF/HF ratio) do not differ between the two groups.
The Poincaré map, where each RR interval is allocated as a functional value of the subsequent RR interval, does not show these differences.
Conclusions: Heart rate variability analysis is of limited value in assessing stress responsiveness during neonatal transport. Too many confusing factors may influence HRV in this situation.
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Bouchut, JC., Chritin, V., Van Lancker, E. et al. 1447 Heart Rate Variability Analysis is of Limited Value in Assessing Stress Responsiveness During Neonatal Transport. Pediatr Res 68 (Suppl 1), 715 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-201011001-01447
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-201011001-01447