TRANSCRANIAL DOPPLER ASSESSMENT OF CEREBRAL BLOOD-FLOW VELOCITY IN TERM NEWBORNS

Using the transcranial Doppler technique to assess postnatal changes i n cerebral blood flow velocity, we studied the anterior cerebral arter y, middle cerebral artery, and internal carotid artery of 31 healthy, term newborn infants. Normative values for the Ist, 3rd, and 5th days of life were determined. Cerebral blood flow velocity values in all th ree arteries examined correlated well with each other and we observed a statistically significant increase only in middle cerebral artery bl ood flow velocity between the 1st and 3rd, and 1st and 5th postnatal d ays. Thus, if we assume that flow velocities in various cerebral arter ies undergo similar change, only one representative artery need be exa mined. The middle cerebral artery appears to be the vessel of choice. This choice simplifies the recording procedure, particularly in repeat ed examinations,