In fetal life, peripheral chemoreceptor stimulation by hypoxia or hypercapnia produces bradycardia and peripheral vasoconstriction (1, 2). After birth, however, the same stimuli cause hyperventilation ...

Short apneic episodes [defined as a respiratory pause of at least 3 s (1,2)] are common respiratory events in premature neonates, with an incidence of 25% in infants weighing <2500 g at birth and 84% ...