The role of complementary examinations and home monitoring in patients at risk from apparent life threatening event, apneas and sudden infant death syndrome

Abstract

Abstract Introduction Home apnea monitors detect abnormalities in cardiac and respiratory frequency, but their use in the diagnosis of respiratory-related sleep disturbances in children has not been demonstrated, as was originally thought. Objective To describe the type of patients being monitored, for how long and their outcome. Material and methods A retrospective descriptive study was conducted on patients with controlled home cardiorespiratory monitoring from October 2008 to September 2012 in the Outpatient department of a Maternity tertiary hospital. Results During the study period 88 patients were included, 58% of them were male, with a median age of 15.5 days, and followed up for a period of 4.7 months. The reason for monitoring was due to a history of sudden death without finding underlying pathology in 20.5%, 25% due to apnea of prematurity, 20.5% due to apparent life-threatening event, and 14.8% due to choking. Other causes accounted for 19.3% (apnea/hypopnea, desaturation and periodic breathing). Of these last three groups, pathological events were observed in 50% of them: reflux disease (9), apnea of prematurity (2), neurological causes (3), and apnea of unknown cause (10). Conclusions Suspected infant apnea is a cause for consultation that creates a great deal of concern to the family and the paediatrician. Home monitoring is useful in detecting changes in cardiac and respiratory frequency, but is necessary to limit its indications and ensure proper monitoring of these patients, avoiding the abuse of other tests or treatments.