title: Velocity time integral for right upper pulmonary vein in VLBW infants with patent ductus arteriosus.
abstract: Early diagnosis of significant patent ductus arteriosus reduces the risk of clinical worsening in very low birth weight infants. Echocardiographic patent ductus arteriosus shunt flow pattern can be used to predict significant patent ductus arteriosus. Pulmonary venous flow, expressed as vein velocity time integral, is correlated to ductus arteriosus closure. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between significant reductions in vein velocity time integral and non-significant patent ductus arteriosus in the first week of life.
  A multicenter, prospective, observational study was conducted to evaluate very low birth weight infants (<1500 g) on respiratory support. Echocardiography was used to evaluate vein velocity time integral on days 1 and 4 of life. The relationship between vein velocity time integral and other parameters was studied.
  In total, 98 very low birth weight infants on respiratory support were studied. On day 1 of life, vein velocity time integral was similar in patients with open or closed ductus. The mean vein velocity time integral significantly reduced in the first four days of life. On the fourth day of life, there was less of a reduction in patients with patent ductus compared to those with closed patent ductus arteriosus and the difference was significant.
  A significant reduction in vein velocity time integral in the first days of life is associated with ductus closure. This parameter correlates well with other echocardiographic parameters and may aid in the diagnosis and management of patent ductus arteriosus.
authors.affiliation: Ospedale dei Bambini "V. Buzzi", ICP, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Gianluca
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lista
authors.affiliation: Ospedale dei Bambini "V. Buzzi", ICP, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bianchi
authors.affiliation: IRCCS "Policlinico San Matteo", Department of Cardiology, Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Savina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mannarino
authors.affiliation: University of Milan, IRCCS "Ca' Granda-Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico", Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Schena
authors.affiliation: Ospedale dei Bambini "V. Buzzi", ICP, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Castoldi
authors.affiliation: IRCCS "Policlinico San Matteo", Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stronati
authors.affiliation: University of Milan, IRCCS "Ca' Granda-Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico", Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mosca
mesh_terms: D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000502:physiology; D004374:Ductus Arteriosus, Patent / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011667:Pulmonary Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012016:Reference Values; D012307:Risk Factors; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013997:Time Factors