A patent ductus arteriosus is associated with reduced middle cerebral artery blood flow velocity.
The study objective was to determine the effect of a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) on cerebral blood flow velocity in ventilated, very low birth weight neonates, in the first 5 days of life. Sonography of the right middle cerebral artery and ductus arteriosus was performed using a colour Doppler technique. Statistical analysis was by stepwise regression. Thirty-one neonates without and 43 with a PDA, mean (SD) birth weight 1004 g +/- 192 and 1071 g +/- 227 respectively, were studied. The end diastolic and mean velocities were reduced (P = 0.008 and P = 0.129) and the resistive index was increased (P = 0.047) by a PDA. pH was inversely related to end diastolic and mean velocities (P = 0.015 and P = 0.003), suggesting that low pH may increase cerebral artery blood flow velocity.


CONCLUSIONS
A patent ductus arteriosus reduces middle cerebral artery blood flow velocity in very low birth weight neonates.
Weir
F J
FJ
Department of Newborn and Developmental Paediatrics, Women's College Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Ohlsson
A
A
Myhr
T L
TL
Fong
K
K
Ryan
M L
ML
D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D002536:Cerebral Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004374:Ductus Arteriosus, Patent / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D012044:Regression Analysis; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color