Normative Values of Cerebral Blood Flow Velocities in Very Low Birth Weight Neonates During First 28 Days of Life

To determine the normative values of cerebral blood flow (CBF) velocities in very low birth weight (VLBW) neonates during the first 28 days of life.

In this prospective observational study, doppler assessment of CBF velocities was performed from the anterior cerebral artery (ACA), middle cerebral artery (MCA) and basilar artery (BA) at 2–8 hours, 24 hours, day 3, 7, 14 and 28 of life. Neonates with gross congenital malformations, those requiring extensive resuscitation at birth, mechanical ventilation with mean airway pressure >12 mbar, requiring inotropes, or those who developed intraventricular hemorrhage (grade II or more) were excluded.

A total of 103 VLBW neonates were enrolled, in whom 1178 doppler measurements were recorded. The mean (SD) peak systolic velocity, end diastolic velocity and mean velocity (cm/s) in ACA increased from 26.53 (8.56) to 51.35 (9.36), 9.22 (2.91) to 13.9 (3.24) and 17.75 (3.97) to 25.84 (3.27) respectively from 2 to 8 hours to day 28 of life. In MCA and BA also, CBF velocities increased with post-natal age.

We report normative data of CBF velocities in VLBW neonates in first 28 days of life.