Commentary: The Prevention of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome: Is There a Role for Home Monitoring?

Abstract

Although responsible for five deaths per day in the United Kingdom, the pathophysiology behind the Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (Sids) remains unknown. Not surprisingly, therefore, attempts have been made to prevent deaths by empirical methods. With the hypothesis that a cessation of breathing or a slowing of heart rate will occur prior to death from any cause, monitors to detect these changes have been developed and used on infants thought to be at increased risk of SIDS. The hypothesis presumes that by the time such changes are detected by the monitor there will be adequate time to resuscitate the infant without irreversible damage, and that infants at high risk of Sids can be identified.