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Updated: Sep 24, 2025

Measuring Cardiac Autonomic Nervous System ANS Activity in Toddlers - Resting and Developmental Challenges
Published on: February 25, 2016
Heart Rate Variability Analysis to Evaluate Autonomic Nervous System Maturation in Neonates: An Expert Opinion
Hugues Patural1,2, Patricia Franco3, Vincent Pichot2
1Neonatal and Pediatric Intensive Care Department, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Saint-Étienne, Saint-Étienne, France.
Abstract:
While heart rate variability (HRV) is a relevant non-invasive tool to assess the autonomic nervous system (ANS) functioning with recognized diagnostic and therapeutic implications, the lack of knowledge on its interest in neonatal medicine is certain. This review aims to briefly describe the algorithms used to decompose variations in the length of the RR interval and better understand the physiological autonomic maturation data of the newborn. Assessing newborns' autonomous reactivity can identify dysautonomia situations and discriminate children with a high risk of life-threatening events, which should benefit from cardiorespiratory monitoring at home. Targeted monitoring of HRV should provide an objective reflection of the newborn's intrinsic capacity for cardiorespiratory self-regulation.
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