CEREBRAL BLOOD-FLOW INCREASES OVER THE FIRST 3 DAYS OF LIFE IN EXTREMELY PRETERM NEONATES

Aim-To measure changes in cerebral haemodynamics over the first three days of life in very preterm infants with normal brains. Methods-Eleve n mechanically ventilated infants (median gestational age 26 weeks) wi thout evidence of major abnormalities on cranial ultrasound examinatio n were studied. Cerebral blood flow (CBF) and cerebral blood volume (C BV) were measured using near infrared spectroscopy at least twice over the first three days of life. Results-Cerebral blood flow increased s ignificantly with time (p=0.02; stepwise linear regression) and this w as independent of mean arterial blood pressure, PaCO2, and haematocrit . Conclusion-This change is likely to represent a normal adaptive resp onse of the cerebral circulation to postnatal life.