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Extrasystoles: side effect of kangaroo care?
Christof Kluthe1, Roland R Wauer, Mario Rüdiger
1Clinic for Neonatology, Otto Heubner Centre of Paediatrics, Charité-Campus Mitte, Berlin, Germany.
Summary
Electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring during kangaroo care in preterm infants can lead to false arrhythmia readings due to electrical interference from the parent. Oxygen saturation monitoring is a more reliable alternative for assessing infant well-being during this practice.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Medicine
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Clinical Monitoring
Background:
- Kangaroo care, a method of skin-to-skin contact, is beneficial for preterm infants.
- Continuous monitoring is often employed during neonatal care to ensure infant stability.
- Electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring is a standard tool for assessing cardiac function.
Observation:
- A case report details a preterm infant experiencing apparent cardiac arrhythmias during kangaroo care.
- The observed arrhythmias resolved upon removal from skin-to-skin contact and reappeared upon resumption.
- Exclusion of common causes of infant arrhythmia prompted further investigation into the monitoring itself.
Findings:
- Electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring during kangaroo care can produce artifactual arrhythmia signals.
- This artifact is attributed to superimposed electrical activity originating from the parent.
- The study identified a previously unreported source of monitoring error in neonatal care.
Implications:
- Clinicians should be aware of potential ECG monitoring errors during kangaroo care.
- Oxygen saturation monitoring is suggested as a more reliable vital sign during skin-to-skin contact.
- This finding may influence current guidelines for monitoring preterm infants during kangaroo care.