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Sudden deaths in adult-worn baby carriers: 19 cases

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European Journal of Pediatrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Soft infant carriers such as slings have become extremely popular in the west and are usually considered safe. We report 19 cases of sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI) linked to infant carrier. Most patients were healthy full-term babies less than 3 months of age, and suffocation was the most frequent cause of death.

Conclusion: Infant carriers represent an underestimated cause of death by suffocation in neonates.

What is Known:

• Sudden unexpected deaths in infancy linked to infant carrier have been only sparsely reported.

What is New:

• We report a series of 19 cases strongly suggesting age of less than 3 months as a risk factor and suffocation as the mechanism of death.

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Abbreviations

AAP:

American Academy of Pediatrics

GFRUP:

Groupe Francophone de Réanimation et d’Urgences Pédiatriques

ICU:

Intensive care unit

SIDS:

Sudden infant death syndrome

SUDI:

Sudden unexpected death in infants

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Authors’ contributions

J. Bergounioux and C. Rambaud conceptualized and designed the study, drafted the initial manuscript, and approved the final submitted manuscript.

C. Madre, A. Crucis-Armengaud, E. Briand-Huchet, AP. Michard-Lenoir, H. Patural, S. Dauger, S. Renolleau, AM. Teychéne, S. Henry, D. Biarent, C. Robin, and E. Werner participated in data collection, critically reviewed the manuscript, and approved the final submitted manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Raymond Poincaré University Hospital, AP-HP, Garches, France

    J. Bergounioux

  2. Inserm U1151, Pathogénie des Infections Systémiques, Paris, France

    J. Bergounioux

  3. Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Robert Debré University Hospital, AP-HP, Paris, France

    C. Madre, A. Crucis-Armengaud & S. Dauger

  4. Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy Referral Center, Antoine Béclère University Hospital, AP-HP, Clamart, France

    E. Briand-Huchet

  5. Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy Referral Center, Grenoble University Hospital, Grenoble, France

    A. P. Michard-Lenoir

  6. Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Saint Etienne University Hospital, Saint Etienne, France

    H. Patural

  7. Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Armand Trousseau University Hospital, AP-HP, Paris, France

    S. Renolleau

  8. Pediatrics Department, Jean Verdier University Hospital, AP-HP, Bondy, France

    A. M. Teychéne

  9. Pediatrics Department, Cornouaille Hospital, Quimper, France

    S. Henry

  10. Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Reine Fabiola University Children’s Hospital, Brussels, Belgium

    D. Biarent

  11. Pediatrics Department, Poitiers University Hospital, Poitiers, France

    C. Robin

  12. Pediatrics Department, Orleans Hospital, Orleans, France

    E. Werner

  13. Forensics and Pathology Department, Raymond Poincaré University Hospital, AP-HP, Garches, France

    C. Rambaud

Authors
  1. J. Bergounioux
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  2. C. Madre
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  3. A. Crucis-Armengaud
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  4. E. Briand-Huchet
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  5. A. P. Michard-Lenoir
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  6. H. Patural
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  7. S. Dauger
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  8. S. Renolleau
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  9. A. M. Teychéne
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  10. S. Henry
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  11. D. Biarent
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  12. C. Robin
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  13. E. Werner
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  14. C. Rambaud
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to J. Bergounioux.

Additional information

Communicated by Peter de Winter

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Bergounioux, J., Madre, C., Crucis-Armengaud, A. et al. Sudden deaths in adult-worn baby carriers: 19 cases. Eur J Pediatr 174, 1665–1670 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-015-2593-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-015-2593-6

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