Oxygen Consumption of Infants with Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Abstract

The objective of this research was to determine the oxygen consumption of newborn infants with respiratory distress syndrome in the first 4 days of life. Serial determinations of oxygen consumption were made in 14 infants with respiratory distress syndrome receiving positive end-expiratory pressures. The mean ( ± SE) oxygen consumption determined at 24, 48, 72, and 96 h postnatal age were 8.3 ± 0.9, 6.5 ± 0.8, 5.5 ± 0.5, and 5.3 ± 0.6 ml/min/kg, respectively. The level of oxygen consumption at 24 h postnatal age was significantly greater than the levels determined at 48, 72, and 96 h (p < 0.03). The oxygen levels found at 72 and 96 h of age were comparable to those determined for healthy preterm infants. A linear regression of serial oxygen consumption and weight loss yielded a ‘fair’ (r = 0.5) correlation with a significant inference (p < 0.01).

Oral sucrose for heel lance enhances adenosine triphosphate use in preterm neonates with respiratory distress

“…The percent change in purine concentrations over time was higher than what we previously observed in clinically stable premature neonates. 3 Because preterm neonates with acute respiratory distress were shown to have oxygen consumption rates that are 60% above normal or recovery levels, 4 the increase in purine concentration over time suggests that sucrose administration may have further altered the ATP utilization to ATP synthesis ratio, resulting in significantly higher products of ATP breakdown. These findings suggest that oral sucrose is not a harmless solution and may have potentially adverse metabolic effects.…”

“…More importantly, we also reported that oral sucrose, an intervention commonly used to relieve procedural pain, also significantly increased markers of ATP depletion and oxidative stress. 3 These findings were obtained during a clinically required heel lance from subjects who were clinically stable, had a low mean illness severity score (Score for Neonatal Acute Physiology, Perinatal Extension II (SNAPPE-II) score ⩽ 8) 4 and had minimal oxygen requirement. The current report examined the effects of oral sucrose analgesia given before a heel lance in neonates who were intubated and/or had high oxygen requirements (FiO 2 ⩾ 30%).…”

Critical haemoglobin thresholds in premature infants

“…With chronic in utero hypoxia, consumption is reduced at the expense of growth 13. Compared with levels in resting adults (4 ml/kg/min), neonates have high resting consumption (8.3 (1.8) ml/kg/min26 to 8.3 (0.9) ml/kg/min at 24 hours27). Mature newborn infants increase consumption in the first 24 hours after birth in order to meet the needs of heat generation and respiratory work 13.…”