title: Effect of rapid thoracic compression on the cerebral blood flow-velocity patterns of small infants.
abstract: We measured the middle cerebral artery (MCA) flow-velocities of 12 small infants (mean weight, 2,882 +/- 602 g) before, during, and after the rapid thoracic compression (RTC) maneuvers of partial forced expiratory flow-volume studies. Cerebral flow-velocities were measured using transcranial Doppler ultrasonography. RTC increased MCA end diastolic flow-velocities and Pourcelot indices of all infants (P less than 0.001). These values returned to baseline immediately after the release of chest compression. We also measured the MCA flow-velocities of several preterm infants during their normal daily activities. The changes in flow-velocity patterns observed during normal daily life were similar to those observed during RTC. These findings demonstrate that RTC produces real, but likely not pathologic, changes in cerebral blood flow-velocities.
authors.affiliation: Special Diagnostic and Research Center, Children's Hospital of St. Paul, MN 55102.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Maynard
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Mammel
authors.forename: K K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Holloman
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Porter
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Boros
mesh_terms: D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000502:physiology*; D005540:Forced Expiratory Flow Rates; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011175:Positive-Pressure Respiration; D011312:Pressure; D013909:Thorax; D013997:Time Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography