Electrocardiographic dynamic development and heart rate variability in lambs during the neonatal period

The cardiovascular system in newborns has unique features; the system differs from that of foetuses due to the onset of pulmonary respiration and the closure of shunts and differs from that of adults due to heart and autonomic system immaturity. Twenty Ile de France lambs were evaluated during the first 35 days of life to describe changes in the electrical conduction of the heart and in the sympathetic and parasympathetic system during the neonatal period. Electrocardiographic evaluation and the sympathovagal balance was assessed by heart rate variability (HRV) were performed, and ambulatory electrocardiography was performed with a Holter system from birth and at 7, 14, 21, 28 and 35 days of age. There was a significant difference in the duration of the PR and QT intervals and the T wave, as well as a decrease in the amplitude of the P, R and T waves for the evaluated moments. The heart rate and total QRS decreased progressively until 35 days, whereas the HRV indexes increased during the same period. The neonatal period requires care and attention, as several adaptations for neonate survival in the extrauterine environment occur during this period. Abbreviations: HRV: heart rate variability; PR, QT: electrocardiographic intervals; P, R and T: electrocardiographic waves; QRS: electrocardiographic complexes; I, II, III, aVL, aVF and aVL: electrocardiographic member derivations; FP: frontal plane of electrocardiogram; HR: heart rate; RR or NN: interval between two R waves in Holter evaluation; NNmed: the average value of all normal cycles measured during the Holter evaluation; RMSSD: square root of the average of successive differences squared between normal RR intervals measured during the Holter evaluation; pNN50: successive differences between the percentage of RR intervals greater than 50 ms in Holter evaluatio