title: Duplex Doppler assessment of visceral and cerebral blood flow velocity in full-term newborns.
abstract: To assess postnatal visceral and cerebral blood flow velocity changes, transcutaneous duplex Doppler ultrasound was used to measure the superior mesenteric artery (SMA), celiac artery (CA) and anterior cerebral artery (ACA) blood flow velocity in 20 normal healthy newborns. Doppler indices of peak systolic velocity (PSV), time-averaged mean velocity, end-diastolic velocity and Pourcelot resistance index (PI) were measured immediately after delivery and consecutively for three days at 24-hour intervals. At 24 hours after delivery, PSV had risen significantly in the CA, SMA and ACA (p < 0.01). The PI had decreased significantly in all three vessels. We conclude that the most prominent hemodynamic changes in the splanchnic and cerebral artery circulation occur within 24 hours after delivery in normal healthy newborns. Possible mechanisms are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: N C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.forename: F Y
authors.initials: FY
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D002445:Celiac Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002536:Cerebral Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D017538:Mesenteric Artery, Superior / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014781:Viscera / Q000098:blood supply*