Clinical pediatrics
-
Clinical pediatrics · Oct 1996
Documented home apnea monitoring: effect on compliance, duration of monitoring, and validation of alarm reporting.
The objectives of this study were to: (1) measure patient compliance with monitoring, (2) validate parental reports of alarms at home, (3) examine monitoring duration, and (4) compare documented monitor records with the traditional pneumogram to evaluate patients for monitor discontinuation. During the 1-year period from January through December, 1992, 114 infants were followed up with documented monitoring. Simultaneously, 113 infants were followed up with conventional monitors. ⋯ Computerized monitor downloads were found to be equally, if not more, sensitive than pneumograms in evaluating infants for monitor discontinuation. Documented monitoring offers a viable alternative to traditional monitoring and pneumograms in assisting clinicians and families in evaluating their infant's progress. By accurately assessing compliance, distinguishing true from false alarms, and decreasing the need for pneumograms, these devices provide valuable information to clinicians and families.