What is ALTE BRUE?

What is ALTE BRUE?

BRUE (brief, resolved, unexplained event) and ALTE (apparent life-threatening event) are not specific disorders but terms for a group of alarming symptoms that can occur in infants. They involve the sudden appearance of respiratory symptoms (eg, apnea), change in color or muscle tone, and/or altered responsiveness.

When do babies stop having apnea?

Most babies outgrow apnea between 36 and 40 weeks of gestational age. In other words, a baby born at 30 weeks of gestation should outgrow apnea about 6 to 10 weeks after birth. Very immature infants often take longer to outgrow apnea.

What is secondary apnea newborn?

Secondary apnea is the second and more lethal stage of apnea at birth wherein the infant cannot breathe naturally because it is asphyxiated during or just before delivery. In secondary apnea, the infant stops breathing after it first gasps for air and its blood pressure falls.

Do all newborns have apnea?

Almost all infants born at less than 28 weeks of pregnancy experience apnea. Apnea occurs in 50% of infants born between 33 to 35 weeks of gestation and is rare in full-term infants.

Is BRUE serious?

Most often, these events are harmless and not a sign of more serious health problems or death. BRUE is unlikely to be a risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

What does Desat mean in NICU?

Desats is is a term used to mean that saturations (oxygen levels) are dropping. Oxygen is getting lower. Desat is short for desaturate. Often babies in NICU have their saturation levels (sats) monitored – the machine (called a saturation monitor) will beep if they drop below a certain level.

What is the difference between primary apnea and secondary apnea?

During primary apnea, the infant will respond to stimulation by re-initiation of breathing. However, if the asphyxia continues, the infant then begins irregular gasping respiratory efforts which then slowly decrease in frequency and eventually cease (secondary apnea).

What does sleep apnea look like in an infant?

The symptoms of infantile apnea include the stoppage of breathing during sleep, an abnormal bluish discoloration to the skin (cyanosis) and sometimes an unusually slow heartbeat (bradycardia). Infantile apnea may be related to some cases of sudden infant death syndrome. Episodes of apnea may decrease with age.

What do I do if my baby has a BRUE?

What can I do to manage a BRUE?

  1. Do not shake your baby during or after a BRUE. It is important to stay calm and not panic.
  2. Try to get him to respond. Your baby may respond to someone rubbing his back or feet.
  3. Learn infant CPR. All of your baby’s caregivers may want to learn infant CPR.

Can BRUE cause death?

BRUE is unlikely to be a risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Most victims of SIDS do not have any types of events beforehand. A child with risk factors for BRUE may have a higher risk for recurrence or the presence of a serious cause.