• S Ducrocq, V Biran-Mucignat, F Lebas, J-J Baudon, and F Gold.
• Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital d'Enfants Armand-Trousseau, Service de Néonatologie, 26, Avenue du Dr-Arnold-Netter, 75771 Paris cedex 12, France. sarah.ducrocq@cch.aphp.fr
• Arch Pediatr. 2006 Oct 1;13(10):1305-8.

UnlabelledCaffeine citrate is commonly used for prophylaxis and treatment of apnea in preterm babies.ObjectiveTo evaluate the use of caffeine citrate in french neonatal units.Materials And MethodsPostal survey in 100 neonatal units.ResultsAnswers were obtained from 81 units. Sixty-three units use systematic prophylactic treatment and the threshold of gestationnal age (weeks gestation) for this systematic treatment is 32 weeks. Caffeine citrate is administered as a loading dose of 20 mg/kg followed by a maintenance dose of 5 mg/kg in 95% of the units. Discontinuing the treatment occurs between 33 and 35 weeks in 37% of the units and between 35 and 37 weeks in 53%. Two third of neonatologits describe recurrent apnea beyond 37 weeks, with the need to continue treatment. Fourteen units sometimes discharge babies at home with ambulatory caffeine citrate treatment and discontinue treatment by 42 to 46 weeks'gestation. A mean duration of 5 days without apnea is required before discharge.ConclusionFrench teams respect "recommendations" concerning doses and duration without apnea before discharge. Indication of treatment, threshold for systematic treatment, duration of treatment and ambulatory treatment differ among teams.

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