Rapid respiratory transition at birth as evaluated by electrical activity of the diaphragm in very preterm infants supported by nasal CPAP - UTU Research Portal

A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal

Rapid respiratory transition at birth as evaluated by electrical activity of the diaphragm in very preterm infants supported by nasal CPAP

Authors: Oda A., Parikka V., Lehtonen L., Soukka H.

Publisher: Elsevier B.V.

Publication year: 2018

Journal: Respiratory Physiology and Neurobiology

Journal name in source: Respiratory Physiology and Neurobiology

Volume: 258

First page : 1

Last page: 4

Number of pages: 4

ISSN: 1569-9048

eISSN: 1878-1519

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resp.2018.09.009

Abstract

Objective

To investigate breathing patterns during respiratory adaptation in preterm infants using the electrical activity of the diaphragm (EAdi) signal.

Patients

Infants born between 28 + 0 and 31 + 6 gestational weeks and supported by early nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) were studied. The EAdi signal was recorded for 120 min after birth.

Results

Eight preterm infants were evaluated. The median EAdi peak value of 19.2 μV (lower quartile 13.1; upper quartile 22.2) at 20 min after birth decreased to 11.4 μV (9.5–14.7) at 55 min of age. The median EAdi minimum value of 4.5 μV (2.2–5.5) at 25 min after birth decreased to 1.6 μV (1.2–2.7) at 85 min of age.

Conclusion

EAdi was high right after birth. This indicates that preterm infants are capable of generating sufficient respiratory drive and diaphragm tone during expiration to establish and maintain functional residual capacity. Diaphragm activity decreased within the first 90 min, suggesting that early adaptation was accomplished by 90 min of age.