Biomaterial Database

Brain-stem auditory evoked responses to hypercarbia in preterm infants. 1994

H E Friss, and D Wavrek, and W H Martin, and M R Wolfson

Department of Pediatrics, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA.

To determine the effect of acute hypercarbia on brain-stem function in preterm neonates, we compared brain-stem auditory evoked responses (BAERs) during 8% CO2 breathing to those elicited during room air breathing in 12 healthy preterm infants during the first week of life. End-tidal CO2 (ETpCO2), respiratory rate and depth were monitored throughout the protocol. Absolute wave latencies and interpeak intervals of the BAERs were analyzed from duplicate trials. During 8% CO2 breathing, ETpCO2, respiratory rate and depth of respiration increased significantly (P < 0.05). The absolute latency of wave V was prolonged (P < 0.025) in the hypercarbic state as compared to baseline. Interpeak interval III-V was also prolonged (P < 0.025). Values of absolute peak latencies I and III were unaffected by the hypercarbic state. These data demonstrate that elevations in pCO2 which elicit ventilatory responses also effect the BAER. The specific effects on ventilatory pattern, peak V latency and interpeak interval III-V indicate brain-stem responsiveness and alterations in the more central components of the auditory pathway. These findings raise important considerations regarding the influence of hypercarbia on brain-stem function in preterm infants and the clinical management of such infants with abnormalities of gas exchange.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007231	Infant, Newborn	An infant during the first 28 days after birth.	Neonate,Newborns,Infants, Newborn,Neonates,Newborn,Newborn Infant,Newborn Infants
D007234	Infant, Premature	A human infant born before 37 weeks of GESTATION.	Neonatal Prematurity,Premature Infants,Preterm Infants,Infant, Preterm,Infants, Premature,Infants, Preterm,Premature Infant,Prematurity, Neonatal,Preterm Infant
D011930	Reaction Time	The time from the onset of a stimulus until a response is observed.	Response Latency,Response Speed,Response Time,Latency, Response,Reaction Times,Response Latencies,Response Times,Speed, Response,Speeds, Response
D012119	Respiration	The act of breathing with the LUNGS, consisting of INHALATION, or the taking into the lungs of the ambient air, and of EXHALATION, or the expelling of the modified air which contains more CARBON DIOXIDE than the air taken in (Blakiston's Gould Medical Dictionary, 4th ed.). This does not include tissue respiration (	Breathing
D002245	Carbon Dioxide	A colorless, odorless gas that can be formed by the body and is necessary for the respiration cycle of plants and animals.	Carbonic Anhydride,Anhydride, Carbonic,Dioxide, Carbon
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D006935	Hypercapnia	A clinical manifestation of abnormal increase in the amount of carbon dioxide in arterial blood.
D000280	Administration, Inhalation	The administration of drugs by the respiratory route. It includes insufflation into the respiratory tract.	Drug Administration, Inhalation,Drug Administration, Respiratory,Drug Aerosol Therapy,Inhalation Drug Administration,Inhalation of Drugs,Respiratory Drug Administration,Aerosol Drug Therapy,Aerosol Therapy, Drug,Drug Therapy, Aerosol,Inhalation Administration,Administration, Inhalation Drug,Administration, Respiratory Drug,Therapy, Aerosol Drug,Therapy, Drug Aerosol
D016057	Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem	Electrical waves in the CEREBRAL CORTEX generated by BRAIN STEM structures in response to auditory click stimuli. These are found to be abnormal in many patients with CEREBELLOPONTINE ANGLE lesions, MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, or other DEMYELINATING DISEASES.	Acoustic Evoked Brain Stem Potentials,Auditory Brain Stem Evoked Responses,Brain Stem Auditory Evoked Potentials,Evoked Responses, Auditory, Brain Stem,Acoustic Evoked Brain Stem Potential,Acoustic Evoked Brainstem Potential,Acoustic Evoked Brainstem Potentials,Auditory Brain Stem Evoked Response,Auditory Brain Stem Response,Auditory Brain Stem Responses,Auditory Brainstem Evoked Response,Auditory Brainstem Evoked Responses,Auditory Brainstem Responses,Brain Stem Auditory Evoked Potential,Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potential,Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potentials,Evoked Potential, Auditory, Brainstem,Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brainstem,Evoked Response, Auditory, Brain Stem,Evoked Response, Auditory, Brainstem,Evoked Responses, Auditory, Brainstem,Auditory Brainstem Response,Brainstem Response, Auditory,Brainstem Responses, Auditory,Response, Auditory Brainstem,Responses, Auditory Brainstem