The Derivation of Epigastric Motion to Assess Neonatal Breathing and Sleep: An Exploratory Study

Abstract

Introduction New non-medical monitors are offered for respiration monitoring of neonates. Epigastric motion during sleep was investigated by means of a wearable tracker in parallel to clinical monitoring. Cohort: 23 hospitalised neonates ready for discharge.

Methods A 3-axes-accelerometer and -gyroscope was placed in a standard epigastric position. Between two routine care rounds signals were recorded in parallel to monitoring of impedance pneumography (IP), ECG and pulse oximetry. Motion signals vs. time charts were evaluated using 10-min episodes and semiquantitatively assigned to breathing signal quality, regular breathing, periodic breathing and confounding artefacts. The results were compared with the impedance pneumographic data.

Results 26 recordings (mean duration: 210 min/infant) were conducted without bradycardia or apnea alarm. The gestational age at birth ranged 28.9 to 41.1 and at recording from 35.6 to 42.3 postmenstrual weeks. Motion patterns of quiet sleep with regular breathing, periodic breathing and active sleep with confounding body movements were found. The longitudinal and transversal gyroscope axes resulted in best signal quality. Periodic breathing was found in up to 80% of episodes and decreased inversely with gestational age showing significantly more periodic breathing in preterm infants. Respiration signals of the gyroscope vs. IP showed a low bias and highly variating frequencies.

Conclusions Standardized motion trackers may detect typical neonatal breathing and body-motion-patterns, that could help to classify neonatal sleep. Respiratory rates can only be determined during quiet sleep.

Zusammenfassung

Hintergrund Neue nichtmedizinische Überwachungsmonitore werden für Neugeborene angeboten. Epigastrische (Atem-) Bewegungen im Schlaf wurden mittels eines tragbaren Bewegungssensors parallel zum klinischen Monitoring untersucht. Kohorte: 23 Neugeborene vor Entlassung aus der Klinik.

Methoden Ein 3-Achsen-Accelerometer und -Gyroskop wurde in standardisierter Position über dem Epigastrium befestigt. Zwischen 2 Pflege-Versorgungsrunden wurden die Signale parallel zur Impedanzpneumographie (IP), EKG und Pulsoximetrie aufgezeichnet. Bewegungssignale vs. Zeit wurden in je 10min-Episoden evaluiert und semiquantitativ der Atembewegungs-Signalqualität, regelmäßiger Atmung, periodischer Atmung, Häufigkeit von Bewegungsartefakten und Apnoe zugeordnet. Die Ergebnisse wurden mit der IP verglichen.

Ergebnisse Es erfolgten 26 Messungen (Mittel: 210 min/Kind), ohne Bradykardie oder Apnoealarme. Das Gestationsalter bei Geburt war 28,9–41,1 und bei der Messung 35,6–42,3 Wochen. Die Atembewegungs-Bewegungsartefakt-Muster ließen sich in ruhigen Schlaf mit regelmäßiger Atmung, periodische Atmung oder aktiven Schlaf einteilen. Die longitudinale und transversale Gyroskopachse zeigten die besten Atembewegungs-Signale. Periodische Atmung zeigte sich in bis zu 80% der Episoden und nahm invers zum Gestationsalter ab mit signifikantem Unterschied zwischen Früh- und Reifgeborenen. Atemsignale von Gyroskop vs IP zeigen einen geringen Bias bei hoher Frequenzvarianz.

Schlussfolgerung Standardisiert platzierte Bewegungssensoren können typische Muster von neonatalen Atem- und Körperbewegung erfassen. Dies kann zur Analyse des Schlafs beitragen. Atemfrequenzen können nur im ruhigen Schlaf erfasst werden.

Key words

respiratory rate - motion tracker - neonate - sleep

Schlüsselwörter

Atemfrequenz - Bewegungssensor - Neugeborenes - Schlaf

Publikationsverlauf

Artikel online veröffentlicht:
06. September 2023

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