title: Superior vena cava flow and intraventricular haemorrhage in extremely preterm infants.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the relationship between superior vena cava flow (SVCF) measurements within the first 24 h of life, and development of intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH) in extremely preterm infants.
  
  
  METHODS
  Single centre retrospective cohort study of 108 preterm infants born less than 28 weeks' gestation. Main outcome measure was degree of IVH at day 7 postnatal age.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean GA of the study group was 25.4 weeks. Mean SVCF was lower (75 ml/kg/min) in infants later diagnosed with IVH (n = 46) compared to infants, who did not develop IVH (87.7 ml/kg/min, p = 0.055). PDA diameter was inversely associated with SVCF (p = 0.024) and reversal of flow in the descending aorta (p = 0.001). Sensitivity analysis did not confirm an independent association of SVCF with development of IVH [OR 0.990 (0.978-1.002), p = 0.115].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study describes early SVCF in extremely preterm infants is associated with the extent of ductal shunting, but insensitive in predicting IVH.
authors.affiliation: a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit , Southmead Hospital, North Bristol NHS Trust , Bristol , UK , and.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bates
authors.affiliation: a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit , Southmead Hospital, North Bristol NHS Trust , Bristol , UK , and.|b School of Clinical Science, University of Bristol , Bristol , UK.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Odd
authors.affiliation: b School of Clinical Science, University of Bristol , Bristol , UK.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Luyt
authors.affiliation: a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit , Southmead Hospital, North Bristol NHS Trust , Bristol , UK , and.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mannix
authors.affiliation: a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit , Southmead Hospital, North Bristol NHS Trust , Bristol , UK , and.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wach
authors.affiliation: a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit , Southmead Hospital, North Bristol NHS Trust , Bristol , UK , and.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.affiliation: a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit , Southmead Hospital, North Bristol NHS Trust , Bristol , UK , and.|b School of Clinical Science, University of Bristol , Bristol , UK.
authors.forename: Axel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Heep
mesh_terms: D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D062071:Infant, Extremely Premature; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D020300:Intracranial Hemorrhages / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014683:Vena Cava, Superior / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Cardiac imaging techniques; colour Doppler echocardiography; extremely preterm infant; intraventricular haemorrhage; superior vena cava flow