Apnea Program

A service of the Division of Neonatology at the Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, the Apnea Program takes a multidisciplinary team approach to the diagnosis, treatment, and management of apnea and related disorders. Specialists in pulmonology and neonatology, provide care and consultation, depending on the child's specific needs. Advanced practice nurses in the program coordinate all services, provide in-hospital education for parents and caregivers, and offer ongoing support once the child goes home.

The Apnea Program teaches caregivers how to administer infant/child CPR and how to manage the home monitor. The programs nurses also follow up with families after discharge, arrange outpatient visits, and answer questions over the phone. In addition, the programs team is committed to helping families manage their child's medical issues by providing a social worker to help with insurance information and arranging priority electrical and technical needs.

Services Available:

A monthly outpatient Apnea Clinic, coordinated by the physician and the advanced practice nurse, provides ongoing care and support
A quarterly SIDS support group for families of SIDS victims meets at the Ronald McDonald House of Delaware to provide regular supportive contact
Pneumograms
End tidal carbon dioxide monitoring
Upper gastrointestinal series
Electrocardiograms (EKG)
Electroencephalograms (EEG)
Chest X-rays
Metabolic screening

Typical Diagnoses/Problems:

Apparent life-threatening event (ALTE)
Cardiac arrhythmia
Gastroesophageal reflux (GER)
Seizures
Siblings of SIDS victim

Additional Resources:

Nemours is committed to keeping children and parents informed of the latest medical information. The division provides a wide variety of pamphlets, articles, and videos to assist parents in learning more about their child's condition and treatment. Nemours also suggests the following sources and organizations where parents can obtain additional information: