Extrasystoles: side effect of kangaroo care?
OBJECTIVE
To present an unpublished reason for an arrhythmic electrocardiogram (ECG) recording during kangaroo care in a preterm infant.


METHODS
Case report.


METHODS
Preterm infant.


RESULTS
A preterm infant exhibited cardiac arrhythmia on the ECG monitor during kangaroo care, leading to interruption of kangarooing. Arrhythmia disappeared after placing the baby back into the incubator. The most likely reasons for arrhythmia were excluded. However, arrhythmia reappeared upon continuation of kangaroo care. ECG monitoring revealed the reason for the monitoring error.


CONCLUSIONS
ECG monitoring during kangaroo care should cause error because of superimposed electric activity from the parent. Oxygen saturation represents a more reliable method of monitoring during kangaroo care.
Clinic for Neonatology, Otto Heubner Centre of Paediatrics, Charité-Campus Mitte, Berlin, Germany.
Christof
C
Kluthe
Roland R
RR
Wauer
Mario
M
Rüdiger
D005117:Cardiac Complexes, Premature / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007224:Infant Care; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D008297:Male; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index