| Periodic Breathing It is a common breating pattern in preterm infants which should be differentiated from apnea. Its pattern consists of breathing for 10 to 15 seconds, followed by respiratory pause for 5 to 10 seconds without change of heart rate or skin color. The amount of periodic breathhing and the length of each cycle usually decrease with increasing postconceptional age. It is a benign phenomenon that occurs most frequently during active (REM) sleep. The prognosis is excellent, no treatment is required. See figure. 4
(Martin RJ et al. Care of the high risk neonate. Klaus and Fanaroff (eds) 1993; WB Saunders Co., Philadelphia) |
