PEDIATRICS Vol. 76 No. 2 August 1985, pp. 232-235
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Decreased Specific Airway Conductance in Infant Apnea

Lily C. Kao MD1 and Thomas G. Keens MD1

1 From the Neonatal-Respiratory Disease Division, Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles, and Department of Pediatrics, University of Southern California School of Medicine, Los Angeles

A disorder of respiratory control is the suspected etiology in a majority of infants with apnea. Although neurologic control of breathing has been evaluated in infants surviving an apneic episode, pulmonary mechanics have not been previously measured. Pulmonary mechanics were measured during sleep in ten infants with apnea, aged 45.4 ± 1.4 (SE) weeks postconception, and 13 control infants, aged 42.0 ± 0.8 weeks postconception. Infant apnea patients were defined as those having at least one episode of cyanosis, limpness, and apnea requiring vigorous stimulation or resuscitation to restore normal breathing, and in whom no treatable etiology could be found. Thoracic gas volume, airway resistance, and specific airway conductance were measured in an infant body pressure plethysmograph during quiet breathing. Dynamic pulmonary compliance was measured in six infants using an esophageal balloon. Specific airway conductance was decreased in infants with apnea compared with control infants (P < .05). Thoracic gas volume, airway resistance, and dynamic pulmonary compliance values were comparable with those of control infants. These data suggest that airway narrowing or abnormal control of airway tone during sleep may contribute to apnea in some infants.

Key Words: airway resistance • pulmonary mechanics • apnea

Submitted on May 29, 1984
Accepted on August 28, 1984




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A. Steinschneider, C. Richmond, V. Ramaswamy, and A. Curns
Clinical Characteristics of an Apparent Life-Threatening Event (ALTE) and the Subsequent Occurrence of Prolonged Apnea or Prolonged Bradycardia
Clinical Pediatrics, April 1, 1998; 37(4): 223 - 229.
[Abstract] [PDF]