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A speculated cause of respiratory inhibition in infants
Hideki Minowa1, Ikuyo Arai1, Hajime Yasuhara1
1a Department of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit , Nara Prefecture General Medical Center , Nara , Japan.
Insights
Respiratory inhibition in infants is linked to perinatal factors. Umbilical cord compression is a suspected primary cause, impacting infant breathing shortly after birth.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Medicine
- Perinatology
- Pediatric Neurology
Background:
- Previous studies identified threatened premature labor and intrauterine growth restriction as risk factors for respiratory inhibition.
- Respiratory inhibition poses a significant risk to infant well-being.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the causes of respiratory inhibition by analyzing perinatal risk factors.
- To identify specific perinatal factors associated with respiratory inhibition in term and near-term infants.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 1497 infants (gestational age ≥ 36 weeks) was studied.
- Infants underwent pulse oximetry monitoring and cranial sonography.
- Respiratory inhibition was defined by severe hypoxemia or respiratory pauses during feeding, crying, or reflux.
Main Results:
- Respiratory inhibition occurred in 422 infants.
- Significant correlations were found between respiratory inhibition and shorter gestational age, twin pregnancies, lateral ventricle enlargement, and increased echogenicity in the ganglionic eminence.
- Cranial sonography revealed abnormalities in a substantial portion of the infants.
Conclusions:
- Umbilical cord compression is hypothesized as a major cause of respiratory inhibition.
- Perinatal factors, including specific sonographic findings, are strongly associated with respiratory inhibition.
Objective:
In our previous studies, we documented that threatened premature labor and asymmetrical intrauterine growth restriction were risk factors for respiratory inhibition. The goal of this study was to determine the cause of respiratory inhibition by considering perinatal risk factors.
Methods:
We examined 1497 infants with a gestational age of 36 weeks or greater. All infants were monitored using pulse oximetry and examined via cranial sonography. Respiratory inhibition was defined as severe hypoxemia caused by respiratory inhibition immediately after crying or gastroesophageal reflux or as a respiratory pause during feeding. We examined the relationships between respiratory inhibition and perinatal factors and speculated on the cause of respiratory inhibition.
Results:
The median gestational age, birth weight, Apgar score at 1 min, and Apgar score at 5 min of the subjects were 38.9 weeks, 2930 g, 8.0 points, and 9.0 points, respectively. Respiratory inhibition was observed in 422 infants. Lateral ventricle enlargement and increased echogenicity in the ganglionic eminence were observed in 417 and 516 infants, respectively. Respiratory inhibition was significantly correlated with shorter gestational periods, twin pregnancies, lateral ventricle enlargement, and increased echogenicity in the ganglionic eminence.
Conclusions:
We speculate that umbilical cord compression is a major cause of respiratory inhibition.
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