[Apnea of prematurity: risk factors and ambulatory treatment with caffeine citrate].

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:

Apnea of prematurity develop during the first days of life and usually resolve by the time the infant reaches 36-37 weeks postmenstrual age. In a few cases, they persist beyond term, especially in infants delivered at the youngest gestational ages (24-28 GA), and require specific care. In our unit, those preterm babies are discharged home with caffeine citrate treatment. Discontinuing the treatment is performed in hospital when they achieve a postmenstrual age of at least 42 weeks.

OBJECTIVE:

To identify predictive factors of persistent apnea in preterm babies.

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

Retrospective study comparing a population of 41 preterm infants discharged with treatment to 123 preterm babies discharged without treatment to identify predictors of persistent apnea.

RESULTS:

Factors significantly associated were: birth weight<1500 g, initial hypotension, gastroesophageal reflux, need for continuous positive airway pressure and multiparity. At home, no infant died and no adverse effect was reported by parents.

CONCLUSION:

Persistent apnea can be responsible for prolonged hospitalization. Risk factors can be identified in some children. Discharging with treatment can be an alternative to their hospitalization.

• Authors: S Ducrocq, V Biran-Mucignat, P-Y Boelle, F Lebas, J-J Baudon, F Gold
• Journal: Archives de pediatrie : organe officiel de la Societe francaise de pediatrie (Arch Pediatr) Vol. 13 Issue 10 Pg. 1299-304 (Oct 2006) ISSN: 0929-693X [Print] France
• Vernacular Title: Apnées tardives du prématuré: facteurs de risque, traitement ambulatoire par citrate de caféine.
• PMID: 16919922 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Central Nervous System Stimulants
• Citrates
• Caffeine
• caffeine citrate

Topics

• Ambulatory Care
• Apnea (complications, drug therapy)
• Birth Weight
• Caffeine (therapeutic use)
• Central Nervous System Stimulants (therapeutic use)
• Citrates (therapeutic use)
• Continuous Positive Airway Pressure
• Female
• Gastroesophageal Reflux (complications)
• Humans
• Hypotension (complications)
• Infant, Newborn
• Infant, Premature
• Infant, Premature, Diseases (drug therapy)
• Male
• Multivariate Analysis
• Pregnancy
• Pregnancy, Multiple
• Retrospective Studies
• Risk Factors