Abnormal cerebral flow patterns in preterm infants of less than 33 weeks of gestational age with a large patent ductus arteriosus

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2000

Authors

d'Orey, MC (Author) Other; Loureiro, M (Author) Other; Vaz, T (Author) Other; Monterroso, J (Author) Other; Melo, MJ (Author) Other; Ramos E (Author) Other; Barros H (Author) FMUP; Guimarães H (Author) FMUP; Ramos, I (Author) Other; Areias JC (Author) FMUP

Journal

Title: Prenatal and Neonatal Medicine

Vol. 5

Pages: 102-107

ISSN: 1359-8635

Publisher: Parthenon Publishing Group

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 2 Citations

Scopus - 2 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-001-0GC

Abstract (EN): Objective To evaluate in very-low-birth-weight infants arterial cerebral blood flow velocity and resistance index changes in the presence of a large patent ductus arteriosus and its correlation with neurological morbidity and mortality. Methods Serial pulsed and color Doppler examinations of the anterior cerebral, middle cerebral and internal carotid arteries were performed in 35 premature infants, 15 with a large patent ductus and 20 controls. Patency and closure of the ductus arteriosus were diagnosed by serial clinical and echocardiographic and color Doppler assessment. Results All preterm newborns with a large patent ductus had a decreased, absent or reversed end-diastolic velocity, a significantly diminished average velocity and a higher resistance index. After ductus closure, these measurements returned to normal, being similar to those in the control group. We observed a significantly higher mortality and a higher prevalence of periventricular leukomalacia, but not significantly increased frequencies of severe intraventricular hemorrhage and initial fluctuating cerebral blood flow pattern, in the group of infants with large patent ductus arteriosus. Conclusions An abnormal cerebral flow pattern was always obtained in the presence of a large patent ductus, contributing to the establishment of the diagnosis of a hemodynamically significant patent ductus, which may predispose the preterm infant to cerebral damage.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 6