Effects of central apnea on cerebral blood flow velocity in healthy term infants.

We evaluated a new method of monitoring cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFV) and described changes in CBFV in relation to central apnea in 17 healthy term infants. The area under the velocity curve during apnea did not change, whereas area under the velocity curve per the waveform showed a significant difference, suggesting that stability is maintained through an increase in CBFV with each heartbeat. The maintenance of cerebral hemodynamics during isolated central apnea supports the assumption that these episodes are benign.