Objective: To assess volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in breath samples collected non-invasively from preterm and full-term infants.
Methods: This was a pilot study included preterm and full-term infants who were not intubated or suspected or diagnosed with metabolic or gastrointestinal disorders. The samples were analyzed for VOCs using a selected-ion flow-tube mass spectrometer.
Results: Twenty infants were included; ten preterm and ten full-term infants. Twenty-two VOCs were detected and measurable in all samples. There was a significant difference between preterm and full-term infants for the 2-propanol, acetaldehyde, acetone, acetonitrile, benzene, ethanol, isoprene, pentane, 3-methylhexane, 2-nonene, ethane, triethylamine, and trimethylamine compounds.
Conclusion: It is feasible to measure VOCs in breath samples of preterm and full-term non-intubated infants. Full-term infants express different concentrations than preterm infants. Further studies are needed to examine the utility and reproducibility of measuring VOCs to identify neonatal diseases and predict outcomes.
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