Aim: To measure the effect of sound and whole-body vibration on infants' heart rate and heart rate variability during ground and air ambulance transport. Methods: Sixteen infants were transported by air ambulance with ground ambulance transport to and from the airports. Whole-body vibration and sound levels were recorded and heart parameters were obtained by ECG signal. Results: Sound and whole-body vibration levels exceeded the recommended limits. Mean whole-body vibration and sound levels were 0.19 m/s 2 and 73 dBA, respectively. Higher whole-body vibration was associated with a lower heart rate (p < 0.05), and higher sound level was linked to a higher heart rate (p = 0.05). The heart rate variability was significantly higher at the end of the transport than at the beginning (p < 0.01). Poorer physiological status was associated with lower heart rate variability (p < 0.001) and a lower heart rate (p < 0.01). Infants wearing earmuffs had a lower heart rate (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Sound and whole-body vibration during neonatal transport exceed recommended levels for adults, and sound seem to have a more stressful effect on the infant than vibrations. Infants should wear earmuffs during neonatal transport because of the stress-reducing effect. © 2011 The Author(s)/Acta Pßdiatrica.
CITATION STYLE
Karlsson, B. M., Lindkvist, M., Lindkvist, M., Karlsson, M., Lundström, R., Håkansson, S., … Van Den Berg, J. (2012). Sound and vibration: Effects on infants’ heart rate and heart rate variability during neonatal transport. Acta Paediatrica, International Journal of Paediatrics, 101(2), 148–154. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1651-2227.2011.02472.x
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