1624 5 year experience with infants referred for apnea/ cyanosis

ABSTRACT The recognition that apnea may be a possible mechanism for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) has led to increasing concern regarding the evaluation and management of infants who

present with a history of “apnea.” Apnea has recently been defined as a respiratory pause lasting for 20 sec or longer or a shorter episode leading to cyanosis and bradycardia. The

presenting event is most often witnessed by only the parents. Over the past 5 years, we have had 308 infants referred for respiratory related problems during the 1st year of life. The most

frequent referral diagnosis was unexplained apnea and/or cyanosis. After extensive medical evaluation there was no diagnosis to explain the event and 173 infants (25% preterms and 75% terms)

were considered “near miss for SIDS.” In 10% of these infants, a potential cause was found to explain the presenting event. In 67% of the patients there was a second event within 8 wks of

the presenting episode. Thirty-one percent of patients had a documented recurrence of apnea in the hospital. In 142 patients (83%) a home apnea/cardiac monitor was recommended. The duration

of home monitoring was from 1-18 mos. with a mean of 5 mos. The most common criterium for discontinuing monitoring was an apnea-free period of 1-2 mos. as reported by the parents. In the

past 5 years, we have had 1 mortality and this infant was never managed on a monitor. Infants who present for evaluation of apnea are a heterogeneous group and home apnea/cardiac monitoring

is helpful in the management of these patients. ARTICLE PDF AUTHOR INFORMATION AUTHORS AND AFFILIATIONS * Dept. of Peds., Stanford Univ. Med. Sch., Stanford, CA Ronald L Ariagno, Christian

Guilleminault, Margaret Boeddiker, Roger Baldwin & Philip Sunshine Authors * Ronald L Ariagno View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar *

Christian Guilleminault View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * Margaret Boeddiker View author publications You can also search for this author

inPubMed Google Scholar * Roger Baldwin View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * Philip Sunshine View author publications You can also search

for this author inPubMed Google Scholar RIGHTS AND PERMISSIONS Reprints and permissions ABOUT THIS ARTICLE CITE THIS ARTICLE Ariagno, R., Guilleminault, C., Boeddiker, M. _et al._ 1624 5

YEAR EXPERIENCE WITH INFANTS REFERRED FOR APNEA/ CYANOSIS. _Pediatr Res_ 15 (Suppl 4), 714 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198104001-01641 Download citation * Issue Date: 01 April

1981 * DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198104001-01641 SHARE THIS ARTICLE Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content: Get shareable link Sorry, a

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