Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 17, 2026

Implantation of Total Artificial Heart in Congenital Heart Disease
07:27

Implantation of Total Artificial Heart in Congenital Heart Disease

Published on: July 18, 2014

Sleep in infants with congenital heart disease

Daisy Satomi Ykeda1, Geraldo Lorenzi-Filho, Antonio A B Lopes

  • 1Physiotherapy Department, Instituto do Coração, Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo - São Paulo/SP, Brazil. daisyykeda302@hotmail.com

Clinics (Sao Paulo, Brazil)
|December 29, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Infants with congenital heart disease often experience sleep-disordered breathing and oxygen desaturations. These sleep issues, particularly hypoxia, can significantly impact their health and development.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Cardiology
  • Sleep Medicine
  • Neonatology

Background:

  • Congenital heart disease (CHD) can affect infant development.
  • Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) and hypoxia are potential complications in infants with CHD.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the prevalence of hypoxia and sleep-disordered breathing in infants diagnosed with congenital heart disease.

Main Methods:

  • A prospective study involving 14 infants with CHD (7 acyanotic, 7 cyanotic) and 7 healthy controls.
  • Full polysomnography was conducted to assess sleep parameters, including respiratory disturbance index (AHI) and oxygen saturation.

Main Results:

  • Infants with CHD exhibited significantly lower nutritional status and minimum oxygen saturation compared to controls.
  • The apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) was significantly higher in infants with CHD, indicating prevalent sleep-disordered breathing.
  • While oxygen desaturations were common in CHD infants, arousal indices were similar across all groups.

Conclusions:

  • Infants with congenital heart disease frequently experience sleep-disordered breathing and associated oxygen desaturations.
  • Sleep disturbances, characterized by hypoxia, pose a significant burden on infants with CHD.
  • Further research is warranted to explore interventions for managing sleep-related issues in this population.
Abstract

Keywords:
Congenital heart defectsInfantPolysomnographySleep apnea syndromesSleep disorders

More Related Videos

Pediatric Animal Model of Extracorporeal Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation After Prolonged Circulatory Arrest04:55

Pediatric Animal Model of Extracorporeal Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation After Prolonged Circulatory Arrest

Published on: May 26, 2023

Related Concept Videos

Heart Failure VI: Adjunct Therapies01:22

Heart Failure VI: Adjunct Therapies

Additional therapies for treating patients with heart failure (HF) may include procedural interventions, supplemental oxygen, the management of sleep disorders, and nutritional therapy.Procedural InterventionsImplantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator: For patients at risk of life-threatening arrhythmias due to severe left ventricular dysfunction, an Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (ICD) can detect and terminate these arrhythmias, preventing sudden cardiac death and improving survival rates.
Fetal Circulation01:14

Fetal Circulation

Fetal circulation is a unique system that facilitates the exchange of gases, nutrients, and waste products between the developing fetus and the mother. This intricate process takes place through a special organ called the placenta.
Two umbilical arteries transport blood from the fetus to the placenta. At the placenta, the blood absorbs oxygen and nutrients while simultaneously eliminating waste products. This oxygen-enriched and nutrient-rich blood then returns to the fetus through one...
Development of the Heart01:27

Development of the Heart

The development of the human heart, a crucial organ, commences from the mesoderm on the 18th or 19th day after fertilization. This process initiates in the cardiogenic area, a group of mesodermal cells at the embryo's head end, which evolves into elongated strands known as cardiogenic cords. These cords undergo a transformation to form hollow-centered endocardial tubes.
As the embryo undergoes lateral folding, these paired tubes approach each other, merging into a single primitive heart tube by...
Sleep Apnea01:21

Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a condition where breathing stops intermittently during sleep, often leading to significant health issues. Each episode can last from 10 to 20 seconds or more and is frequently accompanied by a brief arousal from sleep. This disturbance, largely unnoticed by the individual, can lead to severe daytime fatigue. Commonly, individuals seek help after being informed by their partners about loud snoring and noticeable breathing pauses during sleep.
The condition is more prevalent among...