Sleeping position, oxygen saturation and lung volume in convalescent, prematurely born infants.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether the effects of sleeping position on lung volume and oxygenation are influenced by postmenstrual age (PMA) and oxygen dependency in convalescent prematurely born infants.


METHODS
Prospective study.


METHODS
Tertiary neonatal unit.


METHODS
41 infants (21 oxygen dependent), median gestational age 28 weeks (range 24-31 weeks) and birth weight 1120 g (range 556-1780 g).


METHODS
Infants were studied both supine and prone at two-weekly intervals from 32 weeks' PMA until discharge. Each posture was maintained for 1 h.


METHODS
Pulse oximeter oxygen saturation (Spo(2)) was monitored continuously, and at the end of each hourly period functional residual capacity (FRC) was measured.


RESULTS
Overall, lung volumes were higher in the prone position throughout the study period; there was no significant effect of PMA on lung volumes. Overall, Spo(2) was higher in the prone position (p = 0.02), and the effect was significant in the oxygen-dependent infants (p = 0.03) (mean difference in Spo(2) between prone and supine was 1.02%, 95% CI 0.11% to 1.92%), but not in the non-oxygen-dependent infants. There was no significant influence of PMA on Spo(2).


CONCLUSIONS
In the present study, prone sleeping did not improve oxygenation in prematurely born infants, 32 weeks' PMA or older and with no ongoing respiratory problems. However, the infants were monitored in each position for an hour, thus it is recommended that oxygen saturation should continue to be monitored after 32 weeks' PMA to be certain that longer periods of supine sleeping are not associated with loss of lung volume and hypoxaemia.
Kassim
Zainab
Z
Children Nationwide Regional Neonatal Intensive Care Centre, 4th floor, Golden Jubilee Wing, King's College Hospital, London SE5 9PJ, UK.
Donaldson
Nora
N
Khetriwal
Babita
B
Rao
Harish
H
Sylvester
Karl
K
Rafferty
Gerrard F
GF
Hannam
Simon
S
Greenough
Anne
A
D005652:Functional Residual Capacity / Q000502:physiology; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000502:physiology*; D008168:Lung / Q000502:physiology*; D010092:Oximetry / Q000379:methods; D010100:Oxygen / Q000502:physiology*; D010102:Oxygen Inhalation Therapy / Q000379:methods; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology*; D016684:Prone Position / Q000502:physiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology*; D016683:Supine Position / Q000502:physiology
D010100:Oxygen