Neonatal colour Doppler ultrasound study: normal values of abdominal blood flow velocities in the neonate during the first month of life.
BACKGROUND
Doppler US to measure abdominal blood flow velocities (ABFV) is increasingly used to investigate intestinal haemodynamics in several clinical conditions in neonates. Studies that provide reference values of ABFV during the entire neonatal period are currently lacking.


OBJECTIVE
To make available normal reference values of ABFV and Doppler indices in the coeliac trunk and superior mesenteric artery during the first month of life in term and healthy preterm infants.


METHODS
ABFV were obtained with colour Doppler US in 69 neonates (12 term, 57 preterm) divided into four gestational age groups (25-28 weeks, 29-32 weeks, 33-36 weeks, and 37-41 weeks).


RESULTS
ABFV increased with increasing gestational and postnatal age. We also provide normal reference values of ABFV and Doppler indices to compare with measurements of abdominal blood flow changes during the neonatal period for diagnostic, therapeutic and prognostic purposes.


CONCLUSIONS
These longitudinal reference values provide a useful tool for assessing possible alteration in ABFV secondary to neonatal pathologies.
Papacci
Patrizia
P
Department of Paediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Sacro Cuore Catholic University, Rome, Italy. p.papacci@rm.unicatt.it
Giannantonio
Carmen
C
Cota
Francesco
F
Latella
Caterina
C
Semeraro
Carla Maria
CM
Fioretti
Maria
M
Tesfagabir
Mikael Ghennet
MG
Romagnoli
Costantino
C
D000005:Abdomen / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000502:physiology*; D002445:Celiac Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D017538:Mesenteric Artery, Superior / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color / Q000379:methods*