ABSTRACT
One of the major concerns for newborn infants as they adapt to extrauterine life is respiratory control immaturity, which is responsible for respiratory instability. Characterized by short apneas (3-20 sec) and episodes of periodic breathing, these manifestations are usually without consequences in term newborns, even when present for long periods of time. This situation is very different in preterm infants however, in whom respiratory system immaturity can lead to prolonged and repetitive apneas, and can thereby have disastrous effects on gas exchange.
