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Updated: Aug 15, 2026

Drug-Induced Sleep Endoscopy (DISE) with Target Controlled Infusion (TCI) and Bispectral Analysis in Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Published on: December 6, 2016
[Obstructive apnea in premature and young infants]
1Gottfried von Preyer'sches Kinderspital, Wien.
Insights
Obstructive apneas, a breathing pause, are more common in infants at high risk for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Measuring nasal airflow via pneumography can help predict SIDS risk.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Neonatology
- Sleep Medicine
Context:
- Obstructive apneas in infants are linked to increased Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) risk.
- Pneumography, including nasal airflow monitoring, is a diagnostic tool for infant respiratory events.
Purpose:
- To determine the incidence of obstructive apneas in infants with varying SIDS risk.
- To evaluate the predictive value of obstructive apneas for SIDS risk.
Summary:
- Pneumography revealed obstructive apneas in 24.6% of preterm infants, 28.5% of post-intensive care infants, and 50% of infants with Apparent Life-Threatening Events (ALTE).
- Obstructive apneas were less frequent in infants with observed apneas (16.7%), SIDS siblings (12%), and controls (11.7%).
- Higher incidence of obstructive apneas was observed in infants with elevated SIDS risk.
Impact:
- Obstructive apneas are a significant predictor of SIDS risk.
- Pneumography with nasal airflow measurement is recommended for SIDS risk assessment.
- Home monitoring devices should detect bradycardia as an indirect sign of obstructive apneas.
Abstract:
The occurrence of obstructive apneas in premature and young infants is associated with a higher risk for SIDS. In order to assess the incidence of obstructive apnoeas in infants with different risk for SIDS pneumography was performed including the registration of the nasal air flow in 312 children: 69 preterm infants, 42 children after intensive care, one infant that later died of SIDS, 14 children after ALTE, 84 children after apnoeas observed by their parents, 25 siblings of SIDS-victims and 77 controls. Obstructive apnoeas were found in 24.6% of the preterm infants, in 28.5% of the children after intensive care, in 50% of the children after ALTE and in the one infant that later died of SIDS. Obstructive apnoeas however were registered only in 16.7% in the "apnoea-group", in 12% of the SIDS-siblings and in 11.7% of the controls. We therefore conclude that obstructive apnoeas which were observed more frequently in children with a higher risk for SIDS are of predictive value for the SIDS risk. Pneumography should therefore include the measurement of the nasal air flow. Home monitoring should be performed with devices that are able to assess bradycardias as indirect signs of obstructive apnoeas.
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