PNEUMOGRAMS AND VENTILATORY RESPONSE TO C02 IN INFANTILE APNEA

Abstract

We studied 16 ventilatory response to CO2 and (12 hour) pneumograms (PPG) in 14 infants who had apnea or cyanotic spell at home or in the hospital in order to evaluate the comparative results of these tests in infantile apnea. Pneumograms were classified as normal, borderline or abnormal after studying the following factors-(Apnea density (A6/D), Prolonged apnea, Periodic breathing, Disorganized breathing and Bradycardia). Ventilatory responses to 2% and 4% CO2 in 21% O2 were studied the day after the pneumogram. A mean slope of the CO2 response curve of 30 normal. Our results indicate that combining both tests identified more abnormalities than by PPG or CO2 response test alone. 30% of the normal PPG had abnormal CO2 response and 22% of normal CO2 response had abnormal PPG. We recommend a CO2 response test in infants with normal PPG with clinical history of apnea. Combining both tests increases the sensitivity of either test alone.