ABSTRACT
Polygraphic recordings were performed in 14 sleeping premature infants receiving ventilation
for respiratory distress syndrome. All were clinically stabilized, with normal EEG
and neurologic status and differentiated sleep states (coded according to EEG and
REM criteria). They all had two respiratory patterns: passive, completely dependent
on the ventilator, and active, with autonomous respiratory movements and/or inspiratory
diaphragmatic activity added to passive respiration.
We found that in infants ventilated at the rate of 18-54/min, respiration was more
active and autonomous in active REM sleep and more passive and dependent on the machine
in quiet NREM sleep (P < 0.005).
Within the limits of the values observed in our study, differences between sleep states
were not due to other factors that could possibly interfere with and modify the degree
of respiratory autonomy. We found no significant correlation between the percentage
of time passed with active respiration on one hand and age (gestational, postnatal,
conceptional) or diagnostic or physical parameters of artificial ventilation and blood
gas levels on the other hand.
Our results suggest that in artificially ventilated but neurologically normal premature
infants, differences between respiratory control in both sleep states exist as early
as 28 weeks conceptional age (lower limit of our study).
