Abstract
We studied 21 preterm infants (550-1870 gms and 27-34 wks gestation) who had recurrent apnea. For 145 hrs in perionds of 2-7 hrs we continuously monitored transcutaneous oxygen tension (tcPO2) relative blood flow, heart rate and thoracic impedance. Nasal air flow was monitored with a thermistor on 8 occasions. We recorded tcPO2 during 544 periods of apnea ≥ 15 sec.. The tcPO2 fell to below 40 torr during 178 apneic periods. Only 64 of three episodes activated the apnea alarm (set to respond after 15 secs. of apnea). The heart rate alarm (set to alarm at 100 beat/min) was activated in only 108/178 (Fig. 1). We conclude that conventional methods of respiratory monitoring are poor detectors of hypoxia due to apnea.
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