HOME MONITORING FOR INFANTS AT HIGH-RISK FOR THE SUDDEN-INFANT-DEATH-SYNDROME

The rate of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) In Israel is relativel y low (0.5-0.9:1,000). Home cardiorespiratory monitoring (HM) is an ac cepted practice in infants at high risk for SIDS. We report our experi ence with 261 infants who were referred to our SIDS prevention program . They included: 52 preterm infants with apneas and bradycardias, 83 S IDS siblings (3 twins), 22 infants of drug-addicted mothers, and 104 i nfants after an idiopathic apparent life-threatening event (ALTE). HM was performed in 40 of 52 preterms, 38 of 83 SIDS siblings, all 22 inf ants of addicted mothers and 67 of 104 post-ALTE. All received 24 h/da y medical and technical backup as well as emotional support, and were closely followed until 15 months of age. None of the 261 infants died. Five infants experienced six ALTEs that required resuscitative measur es; another 28 infants had monitor alarms judged as real by the caregi vers. The average duration of HM was 3.2 months (range 1-7). In 8 of 1 67 cases the parents stopped HM earlier than recommended, and in 34 of 167 cases (20%), parents continued HM beyond the time when discontinu ation was recommended by the medical personnel. Among the caregivers, 85% found HM to be reassuring and stated that it helped them to conduc t a normal life. We suggest that in our population, HM may have a favo rable effect on family life. With close backup and support, most famil ies will benefit from HM and will gain reassurance that will enable th em to conduct normal life.