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Sleeping position and responses to a carbon dioxide challenge in convalescent prematurely born infants studied
Tolulope Saiki1, Anthony D Milner, Simon Hannam
1Division of Asthma, Allergy & Lung Biology, MRC-Asthma UK Centre in Allergic Mechanisms of Asthma, King's College London, , London, UK.
Insights
Premature infants studied post-term show reduced respiratory drive in the prone position. However, their overall ventilatory response to carbon dioxide challenges remains similar between prone and supine positions.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Physiology
- Respiratory Control
- Premature Infant Development
Background:
- Premature infants often experience respiratory challenges.
- Postural variations can influence respiratory mechanics in infants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate ventilatory response to carbon dioxide (CO2) challenges in prone versus supine positions.
- To assess postural effects on respiratory drive, muscle strength, thoracoabdominal synchrony, and lung volume in preterm infants.
Main Methods:
- Prospective cohort study involving 18 preterm infants studied post-term.
- Assessed ventilatory responses to varying CO2 levels (0%, 2%, 4%) in prone and supine positions.
- Measured respiratory drive (P0.1) and maximal inspiratory pressure (Pimax).
Main Results:
- Higher respiratory drive (P0.1) and P0.1/Pimax ratio observed in the supine position.
- Functional residual capacity was lower in the supine position.
- Respiratory drive increased with CO2 levels irrespective of position.
Conclusions:
- Convalescent preterm infants exhibit reduced respiratory drive in the prone position.
- Ventilatory response to CO2 challenges is not significantly different between prone and supine positions.
- Postural differences in respiratory mechanics exist in preterm infants studied post-term.
Objectives:
To test the hypothesis that the ventilatory response to a carbon dioxide (CO2) challenge would be lower in the prone compared to the supine position in prematurely born infants studied post-term. To determine whether there were postural-related differences in respiratory drive, respiratory muscle strength, thoracoabdominal synchrony and/or lung volume.
Design:
Prospective cohort study.
Setting:
Tertiary neonatal unit.
Patients:
Eighteen infants (median gestational age 31 (range 22-32) weeks) were studied at a median of 5 (range 2-11) weeks post-term.
Interventions:
The ventilatory responses to three added carbon dioxide (CO2) levels (0% baseline, 2% and 4%) were assessed in the prone and supine positions.
Main Outcome Measures:
The airway pressure change after the first 100 ms of an occluded inspiration (P0.1) (respiratory drive) and the maximum inspiratory pressure during crying with an occluded airway (Pimax) (respiratory muscle strength) were measured. The P0.1/Pimax ratio at each CO2 level and slope of the P0.1/Pimax response were calculated.
Results:
The mean P0.1 (p<0.05) and P0.1/Pimax (p<0.05) were higher and the functional residual capacity (p=0.031) lower in the supine compared to the prone position. The mean P0.1 and P0.1/Pimax increased independently of position as the percentage CO2 increased (p<0.001). There was no tendency for the differences in P0.1 and P0.1/Pimax between the prone and supine position to vary by CO2 level.
Conclusions:
Convalescent, prematurely born infants studied post-term have a reduced respiratory drive, but not a lower ventilatory response to a CO2 challenge, in the prone compared to the supine position.
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