Marie Hanzer

Non-Nutritive Sucking Habits in Sleeping Infants

Background: Pacifier use has been postulated to decrease the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). The responsible mechanisms are, however, unclear. Objectives: Since little is known about the non-nutritive sucking (NNS) habits of infants during sleep, we investigated NNS patterns and changes of physiological parameters during NNS in sleeping infants. Methods: Polygraphic recordings were performed in 12 infants with a median age of 55 days (range 7–82) who regularly used a pacifier during sleep. Episodes of active suckling (bursts) and quiescent periods were differentiated by video observations. We evaluated the time of suckling in relation to the total time of pacifier use, the median number of bursts per min, the median duration of single bursts and the median interval between 2 sequent bursts. In 48 randomly selected bursts, we additionally analyzed changes in heart rate, respiratory frequency and oxygen saturation compared to the 10-second period preceding the burst. Results: Median sleep time with a pacifier held in mouth was 31.3 min (13.0–117.6), of which 15.5% (6.4–36.7%) was spent with active suckling. The median number of bursts per min was 2.2 (1.2–4.5). The median duration of a burst was 3 s (1–22) and the median interval between 2 bursts was 10 s (1–1,434). Heart rate, respiratory frequency and oxygen saturation did not change significantly during suckling bursts. Conclusions: This pilot study presents important data for sucking habits in pacifier users which may provide a basis for further investigations concerning the efficacy of pacifiers in SIDS prophylaxis.

Unchanged heart rate–respiratory frequency ratio in preterm infants during spontaneous arousals

Aim: To find out whether a correlation of heart rate (HR) and respiratory frequency (RF) defined as HR‐RF‐ratio (HRR) may be helpful to identify arousals in term and preterm infants.

Non-nutritives Saugen am Beruhigungsschnuller

Das Saugen eines Babys an der mütterlichen Brust bzw. am Beruhigungsschnuller stellt einen angeborenen Reflex dar, der durch Berührung von Lippen oder Mundschleimhaut ausgelöst wird. Untersuchungen haben gezeigt, dass der Saugreflex bereits in utero vorhanden ist, und zwar etwa ab der 24. Schwangerschaftswoche (SSW). Ab der 28. SSW existiert ein Saug-Schluck-Reflex, wohingegen die Koordination von Saugen, Schlucken und Atmen erst ab der 32.-34. SSW vollständig funktioniert. Vor diesem Zeitpunkt geborene Frühgeborene müssen deshalb zumeist vorübergehend über eine nasogastrale Sonde ernährt werden. Saugen stellt eine komplexe motorische Aktivität dar, die unter der Kontrolle des Hirnstamms steht und die Funktion der Hirnnerven V, VII und XII erfordert. Verschiedene neurologische Störungen können somit mit einem pathologischen Saugmuster bzw. einem Fortbestehen des Saugreflexes über das 6. Lebensmonat hinaus einhergehen.