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[Standardized oculocardiac reflex in ex-premature near full term (93 cases)]
I de Montgolfier-Aubron1, A de Broca, B Kabeya
1Service de néonatalogie, hôpital d'Enfants Armand-Trousseau, 26, avenue du Docteur-Arnold-Netter, 75571 Paris, France. ines.demontgolfier@psl.ap-hop-paris.fr
Unlabelled:
The aim of the study was to present data investigating vagal reactivity in a population of premature infants reaching term, using the oculo-cardiac reflex.
Patients And Methods:
Ninety three premature infants, free of any disease, near full term at the moment of testing, were prospectively investigated at a time close to discharge from neonatal unit. After an all-night polygraphic recording, a standardized oculo-cardiac reflex test was performed during quiet sleep. Data were classified in relation to both chronological and postconceptional ages. Simple liner regression analyses were performed on the selected variables.
Results:
The results showed heterogeneity of the vagal response in this population: longest asystole (1049 ms +/- 540; 95th percentile = 1894 ms); maximal percentage of deviation between two successive RR intervals (88% +/- 90; 95th percentile = 200%); and duration between the beginning of decrease in heart rate and return to mean heart rate (14 s +/- 10; 95th percentile = 30 s).
Conclusion:
Our healthy premature infants at time of discharge exhibited a wider range of vagal reactivity than previously reported for the full term newborns. Considering our findings, we recommend caution before proceeding with treatment of vagal bradycardia in a similar premature infant population.