Document Detail


Role of apnea in the sudden infant death syndrome: a personal view.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  3275935     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Evidence supporting a role for abnormal apnea in sudden infant deaths is predominantly circumstantial. Investigations of infants having cyanotic episodes have shown four mechanisms for abnormal apnea. The most frequent, prolonged expiratory apnea, is particularly dangerous because it is associated with the rapid onset and progression of hypoxemia and other features suggesting alveolar ventilatory-perfusion mismatch. Seizure-induced apnea, maternally imposed obstructive apnea, and sleep-related upper airway obstructive apnea may also produce severe hypoxemia. Attempts to identify infants at risk of sudden death using measurements of cardiorespiratory variables have to date had limited success. Nevertheless, techniques for more precise, yet non-invasive, monitoring of respiratory function, including oxygenation, have been recently developed and such attempts to identify "at risk" infants must continue. Epidemiologic and pathologic studies have provided considerable support for the "abnormal apnea hypothesis" and need to be integrated with studies on the physiology of living infants. On the basis of the presently available evidence concerning prolonged apnea, it may be possible to prevent a proportion of sudden infant deaths by reducing the exposure of young infants to pertussis, respiratory syncytial virus, or other respiratory tract infections and by improving the prenatal environment.
Authors:
D P Southall
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Review    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Pediatrics     Volume:  81     ISSN:  0031-4005     ISO Abbreviation:  Pediatrics     Publication Date:  1988 Jan 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  1988-02-02     Completed Date:  1988-02-02     Revised Date:  2006-11-15    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0376422     Medline TA:  Pediatrics     Country:  UNITED STATES    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  73-84     Citation Subset:  AIM; IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics, Cardiothoracic Institute, Brompton Hospital, London.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Airway Obstruction / complications,  physiopathology
Animals
Apnea / complications*,  physiopathology
Humans
Infant
Respiration
Sudden Infant Death / etiology*,  physiopathology

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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