A New Method and Apparatus that Prevents the Rebreathing of Expired Carbon Dioxide of Sleeping Neonates and Infants

ABSTRACT

This study was done to measure the effect on inspiratory carbon dioxide (CO₂) levels of infants exposed to the Infant Crib Air™ (ICA) apparatus, a novel device which circulates room air within the infant's crib. Twenty-one healthy, sleeping infants and neonates (mean age = 14.7 weeks) were studied in a prospective crossover trial. All infants were studied lying face down or with the face placed passively to the side in their cribs. Inspiratory CO₂ levels were recorded over a 30 minute period by measuring the concentration of CO₂ immediately adjacent to the infants' nose and mouth. During the first 15 minute period, the baseline concentration of inspiratory CO₂ was recorded. The infants were then exposed to the ICA apparatus in their cribs for 15 minutes and the concentrations of inspiratory CO₂ were measured. Mean inspiratory CO₂ levels in infants lying face down decreased from 8.5 to 1.4 mm Hg after ICA exposure (P <0.001). Infants studied with their face placed passively to the side experienced a similar decrease in inspired CO₂ concentrations. We conclude that the level of inspired CO₂ by sleeping infants can be significantly reduced by the ICA regardless of the position of the infant's head.

Keywords

Carbon dioxide concentrations - sleeping infants and neonates