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THE PHYSIOPATHOLOGY OF BREATH‐HOLDING ATTACKS: A HYPOTHESIS
Author(s) -
RENDLESHORT J.
Publication year - 1972
Publication title -
journal of paediatrics and child health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.631
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1440-1754
pISSN - 1034-4810
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1754.1972.tb01795.x
Subject(s) - medicine , unconsciousness , patent foramen ovale , cardiology , foramen ovale (heart) , pathophysiology , apnea , anesthesia , migraine
SYNOPSIS A physiopathological mechanism for the occurrence of breath‐holding attacks in children is postulated. This suggests that under certain stresses a child forcibly expires and squeezes deoxygenated blood out of the right side of his heart, through a patent foramen ovale into the systemic circulation. This deoxygenated blood causes cyanosis. A fall in cardiac output gives rise to cerebral anoxia, unconsciousness, and in some instances, fits. In the so‐called pallid attacks, much the same sequence of events occurs, but in this instance the foramen ovale is closed and therefore cyanosis cannot occur and the child faints due to transient cardiac arrest.