DISORGANIZED BREATHING“ - AN IMPORTANT FORM OF APNEA AND CAUSE OF HYPOXIA

Abstract

During studies of apnea in premature infants, we nave observed an interesting phenomenon. In 21 infants (550-1870 gms) we monitored transcutaneous oxygen tension (t_cPO₂), thoracic impedance (A_TI), and heart rate, for 145 hours. During periods of apnea detected by thoracic impedance, t_cPO₂ dropped as anticipated. An unexpected and frequent finding was a “disorganized” pattern of breathing, (DB), associated with a more rapid drop in t_cPO₂. Using a thermistor at the nose we monitored 6 infants. In each of 65 episodes of DB with a fall in t_cPO₂, we found either complete or intermittent absence of air flow by nasal thermistor, (An) (Fig. 1). DB without air flow at the nares was found to occur most often in sleep and to result in hypoxia more frequently than A_TI. We conclude that DB is an important form of apnea and cause of hypoxia not detectable by conventional monitoring.

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