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Maturational changes of reflexes influencing inspiratory timing in newborns
Insights
Premature infants
Area of Science:
- Neonatal physiology
- Respiratory control in infants
Background:
- Premature infants frequently experience apneic spells.
- Airway obstruction or increased respiratory load can trigger these spells.
- The response of preterm infants to respiratory loads is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the respiratory response of preterm infants to increased respiratory loads.
- To correlate gestational age with the infant's ability to tolerate respiratory challenges.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the airway occlusion technique in 58 newborns (28-41 weeks gestational age).
- Measured the percent prolongation of inspiratory time during airway occlusion compared to unoccluded breaths.
Main Results:
- A significant positive correlation (r = 0.76) was found between gestational age and inspiratory prolongation.
- Inspiratory prolongation increased from 0% at 29 weeks gestation to 55% at term.
- Very premature infants often shortened inspiratory time, possibly due to the intercostal phrenic inhibitory reflex.
Conclusions:
- The inability of very premature infants to prolong inspiration during airway occlusion indicates poor tolerance to respiratory loads.
- This limited tolerance may contribute to the high incidence of apnea in premature infants.
- Maturation of the respiratory system leads to increased inspiratory prolongation and more stable respiratory function in full-term neonates.
Abstract:
Premature infants have frequent apneic spells, which in some cases are triggered by airway obstruction or increase in respiratory load. The response of the preterm infant to increased respiratory loads has not been adequately studied. Utilizing the airway occlusion technique, we determined the percent prolongation of the occluded, compared with the preceding unoccluded breath, in 58 newborns (gestational age 28-41 wk) during the first days of life. A significant correlation was found between gestational age and percent prolongation of inspirations (r = 0.76). At 29 wk gestation, prolongation was zero and increased up to 55% at term. The low mean prolongation obtained in the very premature infants can be explained by the large number of these infants who responded with shortening of their inspiratory time during airway occlusion. The response may be secondary to the intercostal phrenic inhibitory reflex, which inhibits inspiration when distortions of the chest wall occur. The shortening of inspiration during airway occlusion in many premature newborns reflects their inability to tolerate respiratory loads and may contribute to the high incidence of apnea in these infants. The progressive increase in prolongation with gestational age reflects the maturation of the respiratory system toward the more stable respiratory function of the full-term neonate.