title: A new method and apparatus that prevents the rebreathing of expired carbon dioxide of sleeping neonates and infants.
abstract: This study was done to measure the effect on inspiratory carbon dioxide (CO2) levels of infants exposed to the infant Crib Air (ICA) apparatus, a novel device which circulates room air within the infant's crib. Twenty-one healthy, sleeping infants and neonates (mean age = 14.7 weeks) were studied in a prospective crossover trial. All infants were studied lying face down or with the face placed passively to the side in their cribs. Inspiratory CO2 levels were recorded over a 30 minute period by measuring the concentration of CO2 immediately adjacent to the infants' nose and mouth. During the first 15 minute period, the baseline concentration of inspiratory CO2 was recorded. The infants were then exposed to the ICA apparatus in their cribs for 15 minutes and the concentrations of inspiratory CO2 were measured. Mean inspiratory CO2 levels in infants lying face down decreased from 8.5 to 1.4 mm Hg after ICA exposure (P < 0.001). Infants studied with their face placed passively to the side experienced a similar decrease in inspired CO2 concentrations. We conclude that the level of inspired CO2 by sleeping infants can be significantly reduced by the ICA regardless of the position of the infant's head.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, State University of New York at Stony Brook 11794, USA.
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Hale
authors.forename: F A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Valea
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Stelling
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Roman
mesh_terms: D000389:Air Conditioning / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D015370:Infant Equipment; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016684:Prone Position; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013398:Sudden Infant Death / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D002245:Carbon Dioxide