A NEW METHOD AND APPARATUS THAT PREVENTS THE REBREATHING OF EXPIRED CARBON-DIOXIDE OF SLEEPING NEONATES AND INFANTS

This study was done to measure the effect on inspiratory carbon dioxid e (CO2) levels of infants exposed to the Infant Crib Air(TM) (ICA) app aratus, a novel device which circulates room air within the infant's c rib. Twenty-one healthy, sleeping infants and neonates (mean age = 14. 7 weeks) were studied in a prospective crossover trial. All infants we re studied lying face down or with the face placed passively to the si de in their cribs. inspiratory CO2 levels were recorded over a 30 minu te period by measuring the concentration of CO2 immediately adjacent t o the infants' nose and mouth. During the first 15 minute period, the baseline concentration of inspiratory CO2 was recorded. The infants we re 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 c oncentrations. We conclude that the level of inspired CO2 by sleeping infants can be significantly reduced by the ICA regardless of the posi tion of the infant's head.