Infant Apnea Center

The Neonatology Division of The Western Pennsylvania Hospital, along with medical researchers nationwide, has been actively investigating the relationship between infantile apnea and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) for many years. In an effort to meet the considerable needs of these high-risk infants and their families in one setting, The Western Pennsylvania Hospital has developed the Infant Apnea Center.

The first of its kind in Pittsburgh, the Infant Apnea Center offers a comprehensive program to evaluate, manage and monitor babies at risk for life-threatening events. In addition, the Center provides support and follow-up for infants who are on home monitors and home oxygen.  From referral to resolution, the Center's focus is to provide the specific services required by these high-risk children and their parents. Primary health care responsibility for the infant remains with the family's private physician.

The staff of the Infant Apnea Center is equipped to conduct the sensitive respiratory studies necessary to disclose a reliable picture of an infant's breathing pattern. These specialized measures include sophisticated medical studies such as:

• multichannel polysomnographic sleep evaluation with nasal thermistor - pneumocardiography
• pulse oximetry
• esophageal pH probe studies

The Center also provides a variety of patient education materials and training, which includes teaching each family the techniques of cardiopulmonary resuscitation. For those infants who require home monitoring, the Center manages as many details as possible for parents during this stressful time, such as contacting the equipment supply company, arranging for delivery of the monitor, and training the family in its use. The staff also assists families in preparing their homes for the monitored infant.

Following discharge, the Center's after-care program is designed to fulfill a variety of needs that may surface when the baby returns home. As soon as a baby is discharged, the Center sends a record of the infant's hospitalization to his or her referring physician. The Center will continue to provide the pediatrician with periodic updates regarding the child's status. The Infant Apnea Center staff immediately begin a series of routine contacts with the family that continues until the baby's initial problem is resolved. These contacts serve as a status check on the child and reassure the family of ongoing support.

Additional support is also available through the following:

• Whenever necessary, the Center makes referrals to community health, nursing and social service agencies.
• The Center's medical staff is available 24-hours-a-day in emergency situations to manage any acute changes in an infant's condition.
• The monitor equipment provider offers 24-hour emergency service.
• The Center's staff arranges follow-up testing, and, when appropriate, recommends discontinuation of the monitor.

Continued close care is essential to the welfare of an infant with apnea and the child's family. The Outpatient Infant Apnea Center provides guidance to families along with routine contacts -- office visits and follow-up phone calls -- to serve as both status checks on the child and reassurance of ongoing support.