Related Experiment Videos
[Effects of postural changes on blood pressure and pulse rate in neonates]
1Ustav normálnej a patologickej fyziológie, SAV, Bratislave.
Insights
Neonatal blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) increase significantly when infants change to a head-up position. About 70% of neonates show this orthostatic reaction, with lower baseline BP in those who react.
Area of Science:
- Physiology
- Neonatal Medicine
- Cardiovascular Research
Context:
- Limited data exists on how body position affects neonatal blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR).
- Orthostatic reactions in infants are not well understood.
- Understanding these responses is crucial for neonatal care.
Purpose:
- To investigate the type and incidence of orthostatic reactions in neonates.
- To correlate these reactions with basal resting values of BP and HR.
- To analyze BP and HR changes in response to a head-up position.
Summary:
- BP and HR were measured in 125 neonates in supine and head-up positions.
- A significant increase in BP (systolic and diastolic) and HR was observed in the head-up position (p < 0.001).
- Approximately 70% of neonates exhibited increased BP and HR, while those with decreased BP had higher baseline supine values (p < 0.01).
Impact:
- Provides novel insights into neonatal orthostatic responses.
- Highlights the significant physiological changes in BP and HR with positional changes in neonates.
- Contributes to a better understanding of cardiovascular regulation in newborns.
Abstract:
Information about the effect of body position on blood pressure (BP) in neonates is rare and controversial. The aim of the present study was to investigate the type of orthostatic reaction and it s incidence in a group of infants in relation to basal resting values of BP and heart rate (HR). BP and HR were measured in 125 full-term neonates in the supine position and in the 2nd minute after changing the position by lifting on arms to 90 degrees. The reactive values of BP and HR were significantly higher, p < 0.001 (71 +/- 12 compared to 66 +/- 9 Torr in systolic BP, 41 +/- 8 to 37 +/- 6 in diastolic BP, and 127 +/- 19 to 120 +/- 8.min-1 in HR). In the head-up position an increase in BP and HR was observed in about 70% of neonates, whereas their basal supine BP values of 66/36 Torr were significantly lower compared to the values of 69/40 Torr recorded in neonates whose BP decreased in the head-up position. These differences were significant (p < 0.01 syst. and p < 0.001 diast.). (Fig. 3, Ref. 15.).