title: Tissue Doppler imaging in very preterm infants during the first 24 h of life: an observational study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Very preterm newborn infants often need cardiovascular support. More knowledge about myocardial function and factors that influence the immature myocardium may be helpful for optimising cardiovascular support in these infants.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Serial assessment of global myocardial function by means of colour tissue Doppler imaging (cTDI) in very and extremely preterm infants during the first 24 h of life.
  
  
  METHODS
  One-centre, prospective, observational longitudinal cohort study in a third level Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Sixty-five infants with median (range) gestational age (GA) 27 (24-31) weeks and birth weight (BW) 1049 (484-1620) g underwent echocardiographic examinations including cTDI at 5, 12 and 24 h after birth.
  
  
  METHODS
  Peak systolic and peak diastolic annular velocity and peak annular displacement of the left and right ventricle.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant reduction in systolic and diastolic velocities and displacement of both ventricles from 5 to 12 h age. From 12 to 24 h, there was a non-significant increase in myocardial velocities and displacement. At 5 h, babies with haemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) had significantly higher systolic and diastolic velocities in both ventricles than those with non-significant PDA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Myocardial tissue velocities decrease significantly from 5 to 12 h after birth in very preterm infants. Further studies are needed to confirm these results and to determine their clinical implications.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, , Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nestaas
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Liestøl
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Brunvand
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lindemann
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fugelseth
mesh_terms: D001795:Blood Pressure Determination; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004374:Ductus Arteriosus, Patent / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D018618:Echocardiography, Doppler, Color / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D062071:Infant, Extremely Premature; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009206:Myocardium; D009664:Norway; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016276:Ventricular Function / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Cardiology; Circulatory; Neonatology