title: Patency of foramen ovale--does it influence haemodynamics in newborn infants?
abstract: Colour-coded Doppler ultrasound examination was carried out in 37 healthy newborns at 24 h of age to determine the patency of the foramen ovale. In addition, Doppler-derived cardiac output was measured 5 times during the first 2 days of life in the same infants. Our aim was to examine the influence of foramen ovale on Doppler-derived cardiac output and its association with left-to-right shunting through the ductus arteriosus. In 22 infants the foramen ovale was patent at 24 h of age and in 15 it was closed. Haemodynamic variables measured using non-imaging Doppler-ultrasonic methods did not differ between these two groups. The closure of left-to-right shunt at the ductus was similar in both groups. In a follow-up examination at the age of 1 year, one child had an open foramen ovale without haemodynamic consequences. This study provides evidence that patency of foramen ovale does not influence hemodynamics in early infancy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, University of Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hannu
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pentti
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Henrik
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Markku
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ilkka
mesh_terms: D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D002302:Cardiac Output / Q000502:physiology*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006344:Heart Septal Defects, Atrial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn / Q000502:physiology*; D013318:Stroke Volume / Q000502:physiology; D014463:Ultrasonography