Hering-Breuer reflex, lung volume and position in prematurely born infants

TY - JOUR

T1 - Hering-Breuer reflex, lung volume and position in prematurely born infants

AU - Landolfo, Francesca

AU - Saiki, Tolulope

AU - Peacock, Janet

AU - Hannam, Simon

AU - Rafferty, Gerrard F

AU - Greenough, Anne

N1 - (c) 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

PY - 2008/8

Y1 - 2008/8

N2 - Objectives: To investigate the effect of position on the strength of the Hering-Breuer reflex in prematurely born infants and determine whether any differences seen were related to differences in lung or tidal volume between positions. Working Hypothesis: Position related differences in the strength of the Hering-Breuer reflex relate to differences in lung or tidal volume. Study Design: Prospective observational study. Patient/Subject Selection: Eighteen infants, median gestational age 30 (range 25-32) weeks were studied. Methodology: Infants were examined in the supine and prone position, each position was maintained for 2 hr At the end of each 2-hr period, the strength of the Hering-Breuer reflex was assessed by determining the prolongation of expiration following an end inspiratory occlusion. In addition, tidal volume and functional residual capacity (FRC) were assessed in each position. Results: The strength of the Hering-Breuer reflex was greater (P 0.01) and the mean FRC was higher (P<0.0001) in the prone compared to the supine position. The position related differences in the strength of the reflex correlated significantly with position related differences in FRC (P=0.05). Conclusions: The Hering-Breuer reflex is stronger in the prone compared to the supine position. Our results suggest this is explained by position related differences in lung volume

AB - Objectives: To investigate the effect of position on the strength of the Hering-Breuer reflex in prematurely born infants and determine whether any differences seen were related to differences in lung or tidal volume between positions. Working Hypothesis: Position related differences in the strength of the Hering-Breuer reflex relate to differences in lung or tidal volume. Study Design: Prospective observational study. Patient/Subject Selection: Eighteen infants, median gestational age 30 (range 25-32) weeks were studied. Methodology: Infants were examined in the supine and prone position, each position was maintained for 2 hr At the end of each 2-hr period, the strength of the Hering-Breuer reflex was assessed by determining the prolongation of expiration following an end inspiratory occlusion. In addition, tidal volume and functional residual capacity (FRC) were assessed in each position. Results: The strength of the Hering-Breuer reflex was greater (P 0.01) and the mean FRC was higher (P<0.0001) in the prone compared to the supine position. The position related differences in the strength of the reflex correlated significantly with position related differences in FRC (P=0.05). Conclusions: The Hering-Breuer reflex is stronger in the prone compared to the supine position. Our results suggest this is explained by position related differences in lung volume

KW - Prone Position

KW - Supine Position

KW - Humans

KW - Gestational Age

KW - Infant, Newborn

KW - Reflex

KW - Male

KW - Female

KW - Tidal Volume

KW - Premature Birth

U2 - 10.1002/ppul.20855

DO - 10.1002/ppul.20855

M3 - Article

C2 - 18618620

VL - 43

SP - 767

EP - 771

JO - Pediatric Pulmonology

JF - Pediatric Pulmonology

IS - 8

ER -