SIMPLIFIED PNEUMOGRAPHIC MONITORING OF INFANTS AT RISK FROM SUDDEN INFANT DEATH SYNDROME

A system of pneumographic study of infants considered at increased risk from the sudden infant death syndrome is described. It is simple for nursing staff to use and for clinicians to interpret. A total of 166 at risk infants were studied and 85 were subsequently monitored at home. Seventeen of these infants, 16 of whom had had abnormal pneumograms, subsequently suffered significant apnea. Four of 20 babies who had abnormal pneumograms did not have subsequent episodes of apnea. Two babies died; the 1st was on a monitor but the 2nd, despite having had an abnormal pneumogram, was not.