The Prone Position Stabilized Respiration in an Extremely Low Birth Weight Infant with Periodic Respiration and Apnea: A Case Study

• Published in: Rigakuryoho Kagaku Vol. 32; no. 3; pp. 455 - 458
• Main Authors: HAMADA, Yuji, TAKEI, Keiichi, MORIOKA, Yoshinori, NONOGAKI, Masayuki, MOGI, Megumi, ISHIKAWA, Yuki, YAMAMOTO, Mitsuru
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: The Society of Physical Therapy Science 2017
• Subjects: extremely low birth weight infant; periodic respiration; prone position
• DOI: 10.1589/rika.32.455
• ISSN: 1341-1667

[Purpose] To verify the effect of the prone position on periodic respiration and apnea in an extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infant. [Subjects and Methods] The subject was an ELBW infant who showed periodic respiration and apnea from a corrected age of 37 weeks. For the purpose of managing respiration, the infant was positioned in the prone position for 3 weeks. Then, the immediate and 24-hour changes were assessed, using endermic arterial oxygen saturation (SpO2) as an index, after placing the infant back in the supine position. Respiration abnormalities before and after the 3-week intervention were also assessed. [Results] Both the 5-minute (immediate) and 24-hour changes in SpO2 showed raised average values with reduced variation. The frequencies of respiration abnormalities were: apnea, 5 times pre-intervention, and zero post-intervention; and periodic respiration, 5 times pre-intervention, and once post-intervention. [Conclusion] The results suggest that the frequency of respiration abnormalities can be reduced by respiration management using the prone position.