Clinical Case Study: aEEG Monitoring on Infant with Recurring Apnea

Robert White, MD – Director, Regional Newborn Program, Memorial Hospital

Clinical Case Study

LL was a term male infant transferred from an outlying hospital with respiratory distress and apnea. Mother was G1, P0 and GBS negative. She was admitted for induction at 39½ weeks gestation after an uneventful pregnancy until pregnancy-induced hypertension appeared a few days prior to delivery. Membranes were ruptured 28 hours prior to delivery; fluid was clear. She developed a fever of 100.8 degrees during labor, while receiving epidural analgesia. There was no evidence of fetal distress. A single dose of Ancef was given, then C-section was performed for failure to progress.

Apgar scores were 8 and 8; birth weight was 3030 grams, with symmetrical OFC and length measurements. The baby required supplemental O2 in the delivery room, then continued to have mild grunting and tachypnea in the nursery. He was placed in hood O2, and stabilized in 36% O2. A blood culture and CBC were obtained, and he was started on antibiotics. A few hours after delivery, he continued to have mild respiratory distress but had also developed apnea, so transfer was arranged to our NICU.