Doppler-Assessed Cerebral Blood Flow Velocity in the Neonate as Estimator of Global Cerebral Blood Volume Flow Measured Using Phase-Contrast Magnetic Resonance Angiography.

Background: We hypothesized that color Doppler-measured cerebral blood flow velocity (CD-CBFV) as measured in the three feeding arteries of the brain can be used as an estimator of global cerebral blood flow. Patients and Methods: CD-CBFV was determined as soon as possible after determination of phase-contrast magnetic resonance angiography-measured blood volume flow (PC-MRA BVF) by adding up angle-corrected time-averaged mean flow velocities of both internal carotid arteries and basilar artery. 30 newborns (gestational age ranging from 25 to 42 weeks; actual weight ranging from 1,050 to 5,858 g; postconceptional age ranging from 225 to 369 days) were investigated. Results: Doppler-determined CBFV ranged from 37 to 131 cm/s with a median of 69 cm/s. CD-CBFV showed a positive correlation with actual weight (r = 0.56, p < 0.01) and postconceptional age (r = 0.53, p < 0.01). CD-CBFV correlated positively with PC-MRA-measured BVF (r = 0.51, p < 0.01). Gestational age at birth, mechanical ventilation or gender did not influence this relationship. The limits of agreement, however, are wide, especially at higher CD-CBFV- and PC-MRA-measured BVF. Conclusion: CD-CBFV may be used as a non-invasive trend-monitoring tool to detect gross changes in global cerebral blood flow in the unstable and sick neonate. Copyright © 2012 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]