PITFALLS IN RESPIRATORY MONITORING OF PREMATURE-INFANTS DURING KANGAROO CARE

The reliability of respiratory monitoring, using either chest or back electrodes, was studied in 13 preterm infants during kangaroo care (in fant-parent skin to skin contact). In three out of four infants with c hest electrodes both infant and parental respiration were clearly visi ble on pneumograms. In these infants apnoeic pauses were not registere d because parental respiration was recorded as infant breathing. Brady cardia and oxygen saturation were, however, properly registered. In in fants with electrodes placed on the back infant respiration was less s uperimposed by parental breathing. However, even in some of these infa nts parental respiration was visible in the pneumograms. It is conclud ed that during kangaroo care the electrodes should be placed on the ba ck and monitoring should always include heart rate and oxygen saturati on.