While working a shift in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU),you observe a patient receiving caffeine citrate.What is the patient's likely diagnosis?

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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

If pharmacologic therapy is needed to stimulate breathing in infants with apnea of prematurity,methylxanthines are considered the first-line agents of choice.Theophylline has been used most extensively,but Bhatia suggested that caffeine citrate may be the agent of choice.Caffeine citrate penetrates the cerebrospinal fluid better and has a higher therapeutic index with fewer side effects compared with theophylline.Caffeine citrate (Cafcit)has been approved for administration either intravenously or orally.

While Working a Shift in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit