COMPARISON OF 2 METHODS OF DETERMINING ASPHYXIAL POTENTIAL OF INFANT BEDDING

Objective: To establish, with the use of live sedated piglets on a ran ge of bedding surfaces, the possibility of asphyxia when an infant is breathing face down into infant bedding surfaces, and to compare the r esults with those obtained with a mechanical model. Methods: Piglets u nderwent tracheotomy and were attached to a silicon rubber model head of a 3-month-old infant. This was placed face down on bedding surfaces , and respiratory and blood gas data were collected for a 60-minute pe riod. Results: All bedding surfaces but one showed some rebreathing. T his was to lower levels than with the mechanical model, but the rankin g of the surfaces by level of rebreathing was similar. Two piglets die d within the 1-hour experimental time. Conclusion: It is confirmed tha t the data from a mechanical model of rebreathing on different bedding surfaces ale matched by those derived from a piglet model that respon ds normally to asphyxia.