Ronald Kurz

Statistical evaluation of respiratory control in infants to assess possible risk for the sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)

We examined the application of statistical parameters related to respiratory control in order to assess possible risk for the sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). The suitability of these parameters was tested in 287 infants between 1 day and 6 months of age. Respiration of the infants was recorded during sleep, and duration and frequency of apneic spells was evaluated. All infants were patients of the department of pediatric surgery, and were free of pulmonary, cardiac or cerebral diseases. Of the investigated infants, 54 were assigned as an at risk group, for they had already had demonstrable serious or life threatening apneas or respiratory problems during anesthesia.We computed the frequency distribution of sleep apnea durations, and calculated the respective probabilities for the occurrence of apnea of a certain duration according to age. By analogy with Shannons well known definition of average information content we defined an entropy term, which formally agrees with the definition of entropy in thermodynamics. This statistical procedure seems to be well suited for the identification of disorders in respiration control possibly related to a risk for SIDS. All at risk infants were treated with aminophylline, and the respiratory state improved significantly in nearly all cases.In some infants QT intervals were evaluated from the ECG recordings during sleep, but no significant differences between risk and control infants could be demonstrated.

Infrared Thermography in Newborns: The First Hour after Birth

Objective: It was the aim of this study to investigate the surface temperature in newborns within the first hour after delivery. Furthermore, the influence of different environmental conditions with regard to surface temperature was documented. Methods: Body surface temperature was recorded under several environmental conditions by use of infrared thermography. 42 newborns, all delivered at term and with weight appropriate for date, were investigated under controlled conditions. Results: The surface temperature immediately after birth shows a uniform picture of the whole body; however, it is significantly lower than the core temperature. Soon after birth, peripheral sites become cooler whereas a constant temperature is maintained at the trunk. Bathing in warm water again leads to a more even temperature profile. Radiant heaters and skin-to-skin contact with the mother are both effective methods to prevent heat loss in neonates. Conclusions: Infrared thermography is a simple and reliable tool for the measurement of skin temperature profiles in neonates. Without the need of direct skin contact, it may be helpful for optimizing environmental conditions at delivery suites and neonatal intensive-care units.

Physiological and clinical aspects of respiration control in infants with relation to the sudden infant death syndrome

SummaryWe have examined the behavior of several variables which are related to respiratory control in 114 infants (up to 6 months of age) in order to assess the risk for the sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). 23 of the infants had already had demonstrable serious or life threatening apneas or respiratory problems during surgical anesthesia. These infants were assigned as a risk group, and the rest of the investigated babies was taken as a control group.We found that practically all infants of the risk group had apneas during sleep, which lasted longer than 8 s each. Only 22% of the infants of the control group had apneas of such a duration. As a statistical parameter, calculated from at least 1 hour recording of respiration, we defined the mean apnea duration (MA-value) as average value of apnea duration time in seconds per minute of recording. The MA-value proved to be significantly elevated in the infants of the risk group. The trend to hypoxia in the infants of the risk group was also indicated by the observation of lower transcutaneous

Classification of sudden infant death (SID) cases in a multidisciplinary setting. Ten years experience in Styria (Austria).

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Coordination of sucking, swallowing and respiration in infants with sleep apnea syndrome

-values (tc-

Kinderärztlicher mobiler Notdienst (KiMoNo) an Wochenenden in Graz

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