Apparent Life-Threatening Events in Neonatal Period: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Challenges in a Pediatric Referral Center

Leila Shahbaznejad; Maliheh Kadivar; Bahareh Yaghmaie; Bahar Allahverdi; Nosrat Razi; Ziba Mosayebi

IJ Pediatrics

The Scientific Journal of Growth & Development Research Center

Outlines

Abstract
References
Copyright

Apparent Life-Threatening Events in Neonatal Period: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Challenges in a Pediatric Referral Center

Author(s):

Leila Shahbaznejad^1,*,

Maliheh Kadivar²,

Bahareh Yaghmaie³,

Bahar Allahverdi⁴,

Nosrat Razi⁵,

Ziba Mosayebi⁶

IJ Pediatrics:Vol. 23, issue 4; 458-466

Published online:Mar 21, 2013

Article type:Research Article

Received:Aug 12, 2012

Accepted:Mar 13, 2013

How to Cite:Leila ShahbaznejadMaliheh KadivarBahareh YaghmaieBahar AllahverdiNosrat RaziZiba Mosayebiet al.Apparent Life-Threatening Events in Neonatal Period: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Challenges in a Pediatric Referral Center.Iran J Pediatr.23(4):458-466.

Abstract

Objective: Apparent Life-Threatening Events (ALTEs) is an episode that is frightening to the observer and is characterized by some combination of apnea, color change, altered muscle tone, choking, and gagging. This study was designed to evaluate and follow up neonates who presented with clinical manifestation of an ALTE in a year. Methods: In this prospective observational study, all of the neonates with episode of ALTE who were admitted to the Children’s Medical Center (CMC) in Tehran, from June 15th 2010 to May 14th 2011 were enrolled in the study. Data from patients consisting of history, physical examinations, and paraclinical findings were recorded in a checklist and all followed up 3 to 6 months after discharge. Findings: During the study period 18 neonates were admitted due to ALTE episode(s) with mean age of 15±13 days. Nine (50%) neonates had previous attacks of ALTE. The most frequent complaint was cyanosis in 12 (67%) and apnea in 8 (44%) patients. In 10 (56%) the event lasted less than one minute, 13 (72%) were awake, 17 (95%) in supine position and 13 (72%) on their parent’s lap. Primary antagonistic impression on admission was sepsis in 11 (61%) and concomitant seizure in 5 (28%). The most common final diagnosis according to repeated physical examinations, result of paraclinical investigations and follow up was sepsis 4 (22%) and aspiration 9 (50%). ALTE recurred in none of the neonates during follow up. Conclusion The rate of ALTE seems to be higher than in this study owing to high incidence of recurrent ALTE. Although most of these attacks regress spontaneously, more attention should be paid for the underlying diseases.

Keywords

Apparent Life Threatening Events

Fulltext

Click here to download PDF.

References

1.
References are available on the PDF.

comments