EFFECT OF HIGH CONCENTRATIONS OF CARBON DIOXIDE AND OXYGEN ON THE RESPIRATION OF FULLTERM INFANTS

[摘要] Five percent carbon dioxide added to 20% oxygen is a more powerful stimulus to respiration of healthy fullterm infants than is 100% oxygen. Fullterm infants hypoventilating as a result of exposure to low concentrations of oxygen had their minute volumes restored more rapidly and to a greater extent when 5% carbon dioxide was added to oxygen concentrations varying from 12 to 95% than when 100% oxygen was administered.The age of the infant appeared to have but slight effect on the response made to breathing 5% carbon dioxide or 100% oxygen. Infants under two or three hours of age were not tested.The value of adding carbon dioxide to air or oxygen in the treatment of "asphyxia neonatorum" has been discussed. Too little is known concerning the chemical, physiologic and anatomic changes occurring in this loosely termed condition or even in healthy newborn infants to warrant a pessimistic attitude towards the use of 5% carbon dioxide added to air or oxygen in the treatment of newborn infants with respiratory insufficiency.

[学科分类] 儿科学