Neuropediatrics
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Comparative Study
Respiratory pauses in very low risk prematurely born infants reaching normal term. A comparison to full-term newborns.
We studied the occurrence of greater than or equal to 2 sec. respiratory pauses (RP) in very low risk, normal prematurely born infants (less than or equal to 36 wks. of gestation), recorded when they reached 37-40 wks. conceptional age and compared the results with those of full-term (37-41 wks. of gestation) newborns. The influence of gestational age at birth (GA), postnatal age, sleep states, twin birth and gross body movements was tested. We recorded 2434 central RP and only one 4 sec. duration obstructive RP. ⋯ There were no significant differences between prematurely born twins and singletons. When they reached normal term, infants born before 35 wks. of gestation had more RP, compared to infants born at 35-36 wks. of gestation. About 12% of RP occurred after gross body movements.