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Recurrent apnea is common in preterm infants, particularly at very early gestational ages.
These episodes of loss of effective breathing can lead to hypoxemia and bradycardia which may be severe enough to require resuscitation including use of positive pressure ventilation. Doxapram and methylxanthine drugs have been used to stimulate breathing and so prevent apnea and its consequences. Additional information was requested from authors. Each reviewer extracted the data separately, then they were compared and differences resolved. Meta-analysis was carried out with use of relative risk and risk difference.