Breathing patterns in term infants delivered by caesarean section.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the breathing patterns of infants born by elective caesarean section to those infants delivered by caesarean section after a failed trial of labour.


METHODS
Healthy term infants born by caesarean section were studied. The study group (n = 13) had no trial of labour, whereas infants in the control group (n = 13) failed a trial of labour. Polysomnographic study was performed at 36 h of age. Heart and respiratory rate, type and duration of apnoeas, arterial oxygen saturation and lower limb movements were analysed.


RESULTS
Term infants born by elective caesarean section had a shorter duration of pregnancy and weighed less. Their heart rate was faster, they had more mixed apnoeas, and during quiet sleep they had more central apnoeas of longer duration.


CONCLUSIONS
Cardiorespiratory patterns in infants delivered by elective caesarean section are different from those delivered by caesarean section after a failed trial of labour.
Bader
D
D
Department of Neonatology, Bnai-Zion Medical Centre, the B Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel. alona500@netvision.net.il
Riskin
A
A
Paz
E
E
Kugelman
A
A
Tirosh
E
E
D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology; D019296:Capnography; D002585:Cesarean Section; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology; D010092:Oximetry; D017286:Polysomnography; D011247:Pregnancy; D012119:Respiration; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology; D014219:Trial of Labor