16 COLOR DOPPLER ECHOENCEPHALOGRAPHY

From January to December 1990, 100 color doppler echoencephalograms were obtained in 40 infants without cardiopulmonary affections and with a mean birth weight of 2940g (range 1760-3420 g), a mean gestational age of 37.2 weeks (range 34-40w). The examinations were performed using a real-time 2-D Doppler Scanner and a 3,75 MHz sector transducer. Serial scans were obtained in sagittal, coronal and axial plans. Detection rate of intracranial vessels was: internal carotid, anterior cerebral, pericallosal, basilar, vertebral artery (100%); callosomarginal artery (90%); frontopolar artery (82%); medial and lateral striate artery (17%); internal, great cerebral vein(GCV) and straight sinus (SS) (100%); superior sagittal sinus (69%); occipital sinus (39%). Flow mean velocity of GCV and SS was 6-10 and 15-24 cm/sec respectively. Usually vein curve has a continuous profile (therefore we can calculate only mean velocity) while sometimes, expecially in the biggest vein (SS), we observe particular aspects of vein flow similar to artery's one with a sort of systolic and diastolic phase. Probably this waving venous curve is within respiratory control becouse the “squeeze” of superior cava vein may induce an increase of vein flow velocity during inspiration.