ABSTRACT
Periodic breathing, a respiratory pattern in which breathing activity alternates
with breathing pauses, is common in neonates. This is particularly true in preterm
infants (1-12). Its high prevalence in preterm infants reflects immaturity of the
respiratory control system. The importance of this breathing pattern relates not
only to its association with more prolonged apneas, but also to the presence of
significant desaturations and bradycardias observed in very small infants (13,14).
When its presence is excessive in neonates at term, and is accompanied by
hypoxemia, it also reflects a predisposition for apparent life-threatening events
(ALTE) episodes in the first few weeks of life (15-18).
