Skin blood flow as a predictor of intraventricular hemorrhage in very-low-birth-weight infants

Cardiovascular instability immediately after birth is associated with intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) in very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants. For circulatory management, evaluation of organ blood flow is important. In this study, the relationship between peripheral perfusion within 48 h after birth and IVH was evaluated in VLBW infants.

In this prospective observational study involving 83 VLBW infants, forehead blood flow (FBF) and lower-limb blood flow (LBF) were measured for 48 h after birth using a laser Doppler flowmeter. Blood flow was compared between infants with and without IVH. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the risk factors for IVH.

IVH developed in nine infants. In eight of these patients, IVH occurred after 24 h. LBF was lower in infants with IVH at 18 and 24 h and increased to the same level as that of infants without IVH at 48 h. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified a correlation only between LBF and IVH at 18 h.

These findings were consistent with the hypoperfusion-reperfusion theory, which states that IVH develops after reperfusion subsequent to hypoperfusion. We speculate that measurement of skin blood flow in addition to systemic and cerebral circulation may be helpful in predicting IVH.