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[Polygraphy in hospitalized children under 3 months]
Daniel Zenteno1, Iván Rodríguez-Núñez2, Ignacio Molina3
1Departamento de Pediatría, Hospital Guillermo Grant Benavente, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile.
Insights
Polygraphy (PG) studies in infants under 3 months with suspected apnea revealed that most had normal results. Among those with abnormal findings, respiratory immaturity was the prevailing pattern, common for this age group.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Sleep Medicine
- Neonatology
Background:
- Apnea and apparently lethal events in infants have diverse causes, necessitating complementary diagnostic tests.
- Polygraphy (PG) is a key tool for evaluating suspected apnea in young children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the results of polygraphy studies in infants under 3 months hospitalized with suspected apnea.
- To identify patterns of sleep-disordered breathing (SLB) in this vulnerable population.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective case series of 51 infants under 3 months with suspected apnea who underwent polygraphy during hospitalization.
- Recorded general data, apnea/hypopnea index (AHI), central and obstructive apnea indices, and oxygen saturation parameters.
- Defined SLB criteria including AHI, desaturation index (ID) below 80% per hour, and prolonged desaturations.
Main Results:
- 15.6% of infants exhibited abnormal polygraphy results.
- Common findings included an elevated apnea/hypopnea index (AHI) and desaturation events below 80%.
- The AHI showed a significant association with oxygen saturation parameters.
Conclusions:
- The majority of infants under 3 months with suspected apnea showed normal polygraphy results.
- In infants with suggestive sleep-disordered breathing, patterns of respiratory immaturity were prevalent.
- Respiratory immaturity is a characteristic finding in this age group presenting with sleep-disordered breathing.
Abstract:
Apnea and apparently lethal events have great etiological diversity thus complementary tests may help diagnosis. The aim of this study was to describe the results of polygraph studies of children under 3 months hospitalized with suspected apnea.
Patients And Methods:
Retrospective case series. Children under 3 months with suspected apnea were considered and in whom a polygraphy (PG) was performed during hospitalization. General data, the apnea/hypopnea index (AHI), index of central. apnea, obstructive apnea index, average and minimum saturation were recorded. Desaturation index (ID) below 80% higher 1 per hour, one or more events of desaturation below 80% for more than 20 seconds or an AHI greater than or equal 1 were considered as criteria of sleep disorder breathing (SLB). Descriptive analysis was performed and the associations between AHI and saturation parameters were determined.
Results:
51 patients, 32 males, entered the study. 15,6% had altered PG. In 5 of them coexisted more than one diagnostic criterion. Iin 15,6% of the patients was observed an IAH greater 1, in 7.8% a desaturation index below 80% and in 11,8% a desaturation index under 80% for 20 seconds greater than 1. The AHI was associated with the parameters of saturation.
Conclusion:
Most of the patients had normal PG and among patients with a suggestive SLB a pattern of respiratory immaturity prevailed, which is characteristic of this age.
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