Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 5, 2026

How to Administer Near-Infrared Spectroscopy in Critically ill Neonates, Infants, and Children
07:27

How to Administer Near-Infrared Spectroscopy in Critically ill Neonates, Infants, and Children

Published on: August 19, 2020

An investigation on pulse transit time in respiratory sleep studies for infants

J Y A Foo1, C S Lim

  • 1Biomedical Engineering Research Centre, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. jong@ntu.edu.sg

Journal of Medical Engineering & Technology
|April 25, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Pulse transit time (PTT) shows potential for distinguishing central sleep apnoea events from normal breathing in infants. However, PTT could not reliably detect obstructive events in this study.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Sleep Medicine
  • Cardiorespiratory Physiology
  • Biomedical Engineering

Background:

  • Obstructive and central apnoeas are significant sleep disorders in infants.
  • Accurate detection of these events is crucial for diagnosis and management.
  • Polysomnography (PSG) is the gold standard but can be resource-intensive.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the effectiveness of pulse transit time (PTT) in differentiating central and obstructive apnoeas from normal breathing during infant sleep.
  • To assess PTT as a potential adjunct monitoring tool in polysomnography (PSG).

Main Methods:

  • Clinical trials involved monitoring PTT alongside standard overnight PSG in eight infants.
  • Two blinded observers scored PSG events to ensure accuracy.
  • PTT data was analyzed for its ability to identify specific breathing events.

Main Results:

  • Pulse transit time (PTT) demonstrated moderate accuracy in identifying central apnoeas, with a positive predictive value of 0.803 and a negative predictive value of 0.788.
  • PTT was unable to reliably detect obstructive apnoea events, likely due to their infrequent occurrence in the study cohort.
  • Data was collected from eight infants (mean age 8.5 months) with an average apnoea-hypopnoea index of 12.1.

Conclusions:

  • Pulse transit time (PTT) shows promise as a non-invasive method for differentiating central sleep apnoeas from normal breathing patterns in sleeping infants.
  • Further research is needed to validate PTT's utility, especially for obstructive events, and in larger, more diverse infant populations.

More Related Videos

Method to Obtain Pattern of Breathing in Senescent Mice through Unrestrained Barometric Plethysmography09:13

Method to Obtain Pattern of Breathing in Senescent Mice through Unrestrained Barometric Plethysmography

Published on: April 28, 2020

Related Concept Videos

Special considerations while measuring oxygen saturation01:19

Special considerations while measuring oxygen saturation

Assessing respiratory rate concurrently with pulse measurement is fundamental to patient care, providing valuable insights into the patient's respiratory function. The normal breathing rate for an adult usually falls within a normal range of 12 to 20 breaths per minute. Abnormal respiratory rates can signal underlying health conditions or the need for immediate intervention.
Ensuring accuracy in vital sign recordings while prioritizing patient comfort and minimizing anxiety is important. 
Assessment of Ventilation II: Respiratory Depth and Rhythm01:29

Assessment of Ventilation II: Respiratory Depth and Rhythm

Respiratory Depth
Respiratory depth measures the volume of air inhaled or exhaled during a breath. It can vary from shallow to deep and typically remains consistent when a person is at rest or asleep. Occasionally, individuals will automatically inhale deeply, known as sighing, which inflates the lungs with more air than normal breathing.
To assess respiratory depth, observe the degree of chest excursion or movement:
Assessment of Ventilation I: Respiratory Rate01:20

Assessment of Ventilation I: Respiratory Rate

Assessment of Ventilation
A Ventilation assessment is critical for monitoring a patient's health status. Respiration, one of the most accessible vital signs, provides insights into the function of numerous body systems and can indicate serious health issues, such as brainstem injuries from head trauma.
Critical Guidelines for Assessing Ventilation:
Physical Assessment of the Respiratory Tract II: Inspection01:27

Physical Assessment of the Respiratory Tract II: Inspection

Physical assessment of the respiratory tract through inspection is a crucial step in understanding the patient's respiratory health. It provides insights into the functioning of the respiratory system, the musculoskeletal structure, and even the patient's nutritional status. This comprehensive approach involves observing several vital aspects: chest configuration, breathing patterns, respiratory rates, skin color, and use of accessory muscles.
Chest Configuration
The chest configuration can...
Respiratory Volumes and Capacities I01:26

Respiratory Volumes and Capacities I

Assessing the respiratory rate and rhythm for a complete minute is crucial for evaluating the breathing pattern. Even a minor increase in the patient's average respiratory rate, by as little as three to five breaths per minute, is an early and vital indicator of respiratory distress. Patients with a respiratory rate exceeding twenty-four breaths per minute require close monitoring to determine the physiological alterations. This careful observation is essential for prompt recognition and...
Pulse rhythm01:30

Pulse rhythm

Pulse rhythm refers to the pattern of pulsations within specific intervals, offering valuable insights into the regularity or irregularity of the heart's beats as observed through the pattern of pulsation within specific intervals. A regular pulse exhibits a consistent heart rate with uniform waveforms and pulsation force, variations of which can be classified as normal, weak, or bounding.
Conversely, an irregular pulse pattern is termed dysrhythmia, stemming from disruptions in cardiac muscle...