Neonatal cerebral doppler flow velocity waveforms in the pre-term infant with cerebral pathology

Abstract In a longitudinal study of 217 infants delivering at 8 mmol/1) but with normal ultrasound findings were similar to those infants who developed PVCL, namely a significant fall in MCA RI between 48 and 72 h of life, with no significant difference in the ACA RI during the study period. These findings suggest that variable changes in cerebral vascular resistance occur with the evolution of, or as a consequence of the development of cerebral pathology in the pre-term infant, and these changes of increased and decreased vascular resistance are discussed. Further investigation of the changes occurring in the cerebral circulation in the early neonatal period of infants who develop PVCL is required to clarify the vascular changes taking place, but if the findings of this study are confirmed, this technique may provide a means of identifying infants at risk of developing ischaemic cerebral pathology at an early stage when it may be possible to initiate therapeutic intervention to limit the cerebral damage.