Preterm infants have asynchronous thoracoabdominal motion (TAM) secondary to a highly compliant chest wall and different lung mechanics compared to term infants. We compared TAM during continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) administered through an endotracheal tube (ETT‐CPAP) or nasal prongs (nasal‐CPAP), and during synchronized intermittent mandatory ventilation administered by nasal prongs (nasal‐SIMV) in 14 preterm newborn infants. Asynchrony of TAM was quantified by measuring relative motion of chest wall and abdomen with strain gauges and calculating phase angles (θ). Phase angles were lower during nasal‐SIMV compared to nasal‐CPAP or ETT‐CPAP (P < 0.05), and lower during nasal‐CPAP compared to ETT‐CPAP (P < 0.05). The reduced TAM asynchrony during nasal‐SIMV and nasal‐CPAP may be due to elimination of resistance of the ETT and/or effective stabilization of the chest wall. These data suggest that nasal‐SIMV may be an effective mode of respiratory support for preterm infants requiring minimal ventilatory support. Pediatr. Pulmonol. 1998; 25:175–181. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

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Patients with congenital central hypoventilation syndrome (CCHS) (Ondine's curse syndrome) have impaired autonomic control of ventilation with intact voluntary control of respiration. Autonomic dysfunction and cardiac abnormalities are common in CCHS. Bradyarrhythmias are life-threatening and often require pacemaker insertion. We presented a case of a patient with CCHS suffering from long sinus pauses requiring cardiac pacemaker insertion. Patients with CCHS are at risk for pulmonary hypertension and cor pulmonale secondary to chronic hypoxia. Diaphragmatic pacing has been beneficial in some patients with CCHS. In this article, we review concomitant cardiac abnormalities and the occurrence of bradyarrhythmias in patients with CCHS.

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In children with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, the spatial peaks QRS-T angle is associated with ventricular arrhythmia burden with high negative predictive value and odds ratio.