Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsOxygen SaturationApneaBradycardiaCausesLong-Term EffectsTreatmentPreventing Further SpellsWhen Will It Go Away?
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Oxygen Saturation
Apnea
Bradycardia
Causes
Long-Term Effects
Treatment
Preventing Further Spells
When Will It Go Away?
In premature babies, apnea andbradycardiaoften occur together, along with low blood oxygen levels.Apnea is a period when breathing briefly stops. It often triggers bradycardia, which is a slow heartbeat.
This article explains apnea and bradycardia, their respective causes, the long-term effects, and the available treatment options.
Verywell / Sisi Yu
Understanding Dangerously Low Oxygen Levels
Apnea means a period in which breathing stops. In premature babies, apnea is a pause in breathing that lasts longer than 20 seconds or a briefer pause along with bradycardia (a heart rate below 100 beats per minute) or pale or bluish skin.
The Pause Is Often TemporaryJust like adults with sleep apnea, some premature babies need no “reminders” to start breathing. After a brief pause, they will simply start breathing on their own again.
The Pause Is Often Temporary
Just like adults with sleep apnea, some premature babies need no “reminders” to start breathing. After a brief pause, they will simply start breathing on their own again.
Preemies Breathe Differently
Usually, there’s a simple reason why apnea and bradycardia are common in premature babies: Their nervous system hasn’t finished developing. And without the full resources of the brain’s respiratory center, the lungs aren’t “notified” to take regular breaths. Nearly half of babies that weigh less than 5 ½ pounds are prone to have some apnea.
Erratic in FrequencyThe As and Bs can occur once, several, or many times a day.
Erratic in Frequency
The As and Bs can occur once, several, or many times a day.
Doctors aren’t sure what the long-term effects of apnea and bradycardia are. They know that bradycardia causes a temporary reduction in the brain’s blood and oxygen levels. They also know that premature infants who had more days with recorded episodes of apnea have lower scores at age 3 on tests that measure developmental and neurological outcomes. However, they can’t say for certain that apnea and bradycardia cause the lower scores.
Separate Apnea From SIDSAlthough premature babies in general have a higher SIDS risk than full-term infants, apnea of prematurity does not cause higher SIDS rates.
Separate Apnea From SIDS
Although premature babies in general have a higher SIDS risk than full-term infants, apnea of prematurity does not cause higher SIDS rates.
If the events are due to infection or other problems, then treating the problem will often cause the episodes to stop, too.
Babies who have frequent bouts of apnea may be placed oncontinuous positive airway pressure(CPAP) to help them breathe. Medication can also be used to treat apnea (and bradycardia) of prematurity. Caffeine is a relatively new treatment for apnea that has few side effects and has been largely successful.
The Best PositionBabies should be placed on their backs when they’re sleeping or in their cribs.
The Best Position
Babies should be placed on their backs when they’re sleeping or in their cribs.
Knowing what triggers episodes of apnea and bradycardia can help nurses and parents minimize the number of spells that premature babies experience. Apnea and bradycardia tend to occur during transitions out ofdeep sleep, so prenatal nurses know that it’s important to indulge babies with long periods of deep sleep.
Prognosis Is Good
Precautions MatterMany hospitals require babies to clock a certain number of days without apnea or bradycardia before they are discharged.
Precautions Matter
Many hospitals require babies to clock a certain number of days without apnea or bradycardia before they are discharged.
Summary
A Word From Verywell
7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Zhao J, Gonzalez F, Mu D.Apnea of prematurity: from cause to treatment.Eur J Pediatr. 2011;170(9):1097–1105. doi:10.1007/s00431-011-1409-6Sola A, Golombek SG, Montes Bueno MT, et al.Safe oxygen saturation targeting and monitoring in preterm infants: can we avoid hypoxia and hyperoxia?.Acta Paediatr. 2014;103(10):1009–1018. doi:10.1111/apa.12692Eichenwald EC; Committee on Fetus and Newborn, American Academy of Pediatrics.Apnea of prematurity.Pediatrics. 2016;137(1):10.1542/peds.2015-3757. doi:10.1542/peds.2015-3757Emory University School of Medicine Department of Pediatrics.Apnea and bradycardia.UptoDate.Bradycardia in children.KidsHealth.Apnea of prematurity.Dobson NR, Patel RM.The role of caffeine in noninvasive respiratory support.Clin Perinatol. 2016;43(4):773–782. doi:10.1016/j.clp.2016.07.011.
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Zhao J, Gonzalez F, Mu D.Apnea of prematurity: from cause to treatment.Eur J Pediatr. 2011;170(9):1097–1105. doi:10.1007/s00431-011-1409-6Sola A, Golombek SG, Montes Bueno MT, et al.Safe oxygen saturation targeting and monitoring in preterm infants: can we avoid hypoxia and hyperoxia?.Acta Paediatr. 2014;103(10):1009–1018. doi:10.1111/apa.12692Eichenwald EC; Committee on Fetus and Newborn, American Academy of Pediatrics.Apnea of prematurity.Pediatrics. 2016;137(1):10.1542/peds.2015-3757. doi:10.1542/peds.2015-3757Emory University School of Medicine Department of Pediatrics.Apnea and bradycardia.UptoDate.Bradycardia in children.KidsHealth.Apnea of prematurity.Dobson NR, Patel RM.The role of caffeine in noninvasive respiratory support.Clin Perinatol. 2016;43(4):773–782. doi:10.1016/j.clp.2016.07.011.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Zhao J, Gonzalez F, Mu D.Apnea of prematurity: from cause to treatment.Eur J Pediatr. 2011;170(9):1097–1105. doi:10.1007/s00431-011-1409-6Sola A, Golombek SG, Montes Bueno MT, et al.Safe oxygen saturation targeting and monitoring in preterm infants: can we avoid hypoxia and hyperoxia?.Acta Paediatr. 2014;103(10):1009–1018. doi:10.1111/apa.12692Eichenwald EC; Committee on Fetus and Newborn, American Academy of Pediatrics.Apnea of prematurity.Pediatrics. 2016;137(1):10.1542/peds.2015-3757. doi:10.1542/peds.2015-3757Emory University School of Medicine Department of Pediatrics.Apnea and bradycardia.UptoDate.Bradycardia in children.KidsHealth.Apnea of prematurity.Dobson NR, Patel RM.The role of caffeine in noninvasive respiratory support.Clin Perinatol. 2016;43(4):773–782. doi:10.1016/j.clp.2016.07.011.
Zhao J, Gonzalez F, Mu D.Apnea of prematurity: from cause to treatment.Eur J Pediatr. 2011;170(9):1097–1105. doi:10.1007/s00431-011-1409-6
Sola A, Golombek SG, Montes Bueno MT, et al.Safe oxygen saturation targeting and monitoring in preterm infants: can we avoid hypoxia and hyperoxia?.Acta Paediatr. 2014;103(10):1009–1018. doi:10.1111/apa.12692
Eichenwald EC; Committee on Fetus and Newborn, American Academy of Pediatrics.Apnea of prematurity.Pediatrics. 2016;137(1):10.1542/peds.2015-3757. doi:10.1542/peds.2015-3757
Emory University School of Medicine Department of Pediatrics.Apnea and bradycardia.
UptoDate.Bradycardia in children.
KidsHealth.Apnea of prematurity.
Dobson NR, Patel RM.The role of caffeine in noninvasive respiratory support.Clin Perinatol. 2016;43(4):773–782. doi:10.1016/j.clp.2016.07.011.
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