24-hour tape recordings of ECG and respiration in the newborn infant with findings related to sudden death and unexplained brain damage in infancy. Issue 1 (January 1980)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Southall, D P; Richards, Jean; Brown, D J; Johnston, P G B; De Swiet, M; Shinebourne, E A
• Is Part Of: Archives of disease in childhood. Volume 55:Issue 1(1980)
• Page Start: 7
• Page End: 16
• Publication Date: 1980-01
• Subjects: Children -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Infants -- Diseases -- Periodicals; 618.920005
• DOI: 10.1136/adc.55.1.7
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0003-9888

Abstract

Abstract : A system for simultaneous 24-hour tape recording of ECG and respiration has been developed and used in the study of 4 groups of newborn infants. In 50 randomly selected, healthy term infants, the mean lowest heart rate (>9 beats' duration; was 88 ± 13. 14 (28%) infants had junctional escape rhythms, 5 had supraventricular, and 2 ventricular premature beats. 34 (68%) subjects had apnoeic episodes ≥10 seconds' duration; the 95th centile for maximum duration of apnoea was 18 seconds, the longest episode being 28 seconds. Episodes of bradycardia <100/minute were associated with 50 of a total of 288 episodes of apnoea of 10-14 seconds, with all 4 episodes of 15-19 seconds, and with both episodes ≥20 seconds. In 100 randomly selected, healthy, preterm or low birthweight infants studied within 5 days of their discharge from hospital, the mean lowest heart rate was 91 ± 18. 18 had junctional, one idioventricular, and 3 both junctional and idioventricular escape rhythms. Two had supraventricular and 6 had ventricular premature beats. 66 subjects had apnoeic episodes ≥10 seconds' duration; the 95th centile for maximum duration of apnoea was 20 seconds, the longest episode being 52 seconds. Episodes of bradycardia <100/min were associated with 84 of a total of 608 episodes of apnoea 10-14 seconds' duration, with 21 of 37 episodes of 15-19 seconds, and with 15 of 15≥20 seconds. One preterm infant with a maximum apnoeic episode of 52 seconds had an associated bradycardia of 27/min. Three of 5 `near-miss' cot death infants and one preterm infant with a family history of cot death studied immediately before discharge showed prolonged apnoea >40 seconds, or extreme bradycardia <50/min, or both. Finally, 11 infants with arrhythmias on a standard ECG were studied. Of these, 6 with premature beats and 3 of 5 with episodes of bradycardia did not exhibit apnoea during arrhythmias. Two of the 5 babies with bradycardia however, demonstrated associated apnoea of 10-14 seconds. There may be a relationship between latent episodes of prolonged apnoea and bradycardia and hypoxaemic brain damage or sudden infant death.