CEREBRAL BLOOD-FLOW AND EEG CHANGES IN PRETERM INFANTS WITH PATENT DUCTUS-ARTERIOSUS

It is unknown whether the decreased cerebral blood flow seen in infant s with a large patent ductus arteriosus is associated with cerebral dy sfunction, Decreased cerebral blood flow in adult human and animal mod els has been associated with altered electroencephalography (EEG), spe ctral-analyzed EEG, and EEG response to photic stimulation. Cerebral b lood flow velocity, EEG, spectral analysis of EEG, and photic alterati on of EEG spectra were evaluated in 8 infants before and after closure of a significant patent ductus arteriosus and in 10 control infants w ithout a patent ductus arteriosus, All infants with patent ductus arte riosus had moderate or large shunts associated with a 25% mean reducti on in cerebral blood flow velocity. There were no differences, however , in EEG, spectral analysis of EEG, or photic alteration of the spectr al analysis for these infants before and after patent ductus arteriosu s closure as compared to controls. It is concluded that the degree of decreased cerebral blood flow in infants with a significant patent duc tus arteriosus is not sufficient to cause measurable alteration in ele ctrocortical activity.