title: Apnea of prematurity: diagnosis, implications for care, and pharmacologic management.
abstract: Apnea is a disorder of respiratory control commonly seen in premature infants. Several mechanisms have been proposed to explain apnea, and many clinical conditions have been associated with its development. Apnea of prematurity is seen in infants less than 37 weeks gestation, with the incidence increasing as gestational age decreases. Expert and consistent nursing care is essential for management of premature infants with apnea. This article reviews the differential diagnosis, pathogenesis, and implications for care of apnea of prematurity.
authors.affiliation: Level III NICU, All Children's Hospital, 801 Sixth Street South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, USA.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Theobald
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Botwinski
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Albanna
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: McWilliam
mesh_terms: D001049:Apnea / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000451:nursing* / Q000628:therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000451:nursing* / Q000628:therapy; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D008297:Male; D008397:Masks; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D010100:Oxygen / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011379:Prognosis; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014970:Xanthines / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D014970:Xanthines; C008514:methylxanthine; D010100:Oxygen