Author:

Keywords:

Behavior, Blood Flow Velocity, Cerebral Arteries, Cerebrovascular Circulation, Humans, Infant, Newborn, Infant, Premature, Ultrasonics, 1103 Clinical Sciences, 1114 Paediatrics and Reproductive Medicine, 1702 Cognitive Sciences, Pediatrics, 3213 Paediatrics, 3215 Reproductive medicine, 5201 Applied and developmental psychology

Abstract:

Previous Doppler ultrasound studies assessing cerebral blood flow velocities in the anterior cerebral artery (ACA) among healthy term and preterm infants, showed a widespread range for the calculated flow indices. However, only one of these studies accounted for the infant's behavioural state. In the present study a stable pattern of the cerebral blood flow velocity tracings and of the Pulsatility Index (PI) was observed during state 1, whereas marked fluctuations in cerebral blood flow velocity and PI were found during state 4 or active wakefulness. During state 2, minor variations of cerebral blood flow velocity and PI occurred though tended to be less pronounced than during active wakefulness. Thus at the time of Doppler assessment the cerebral blood flow velocity pattern and its variability will be better understood by taking into account the behavioural state of the infant.