Sleep related breathing disorders and indications for polysomnography in preterm infants

Abstract There is a range of breathing problemswhich occur and may persist in preterm infants, such as central apneas, obstructive apneasand periodic breathing. Preterm infants may also suffer from respiratory distress syndrome and chronic lung disease necessitating prolonged use of oxygen therapyafter discharge from the hospital. Due to these persistent breathingpattern abnormalities in preterm infants, there is a higher risk of altered sleep and apparent life threatening events. Polysomnographycan be a helpful tool to identify those infants who have abnormalities in their breathingpattern, to identify those infants who have an increased risk to get a sleeprelated breathingevent at home and to decide about the discontinuation of oxygen therapy.