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Updated: Mar 19, 2026
Transcutaneous Microcirculatory Imaging in Preterm Neonates
Published on: December 31, 2015
Basal ganglia perfusion in the preterm infant during transition
Tim Schindler1,2, Yasmin Gilbert1, Sonali Jayatilake1
1Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
Background:
The preterm brain is susceptible to changes in blood flow. Using power Doppler images, digital imaging techniques have been developed to measure the total amount of blood flow in a defined area, giving the index: fractional moving blood volume (FMBV). The aim of this study was to investigate temporal changes in basal ganglia perfusion during the transitional period after birth.
Methods:
Twenty-four preterm infants were examined with serial cranial ultrasounds at four time points during the first 48 h of life. FMBV was calculated using power Doppler images at each time point.
Results:
All infants had analyzable data and FMBV was successfully calculated at all time points. Twenty-three of the 24 infants had an increasing trend in FMBV over time. The median FMBV increased from 17% at 6 h to 25% at 48 h. One-way repeated measures ANOVA showed a significant increase in values at P < 0.001 at each of the four time points.
Conclusion:
We have demonstrated changes in basal ganglia blood flow as the cerebral circulation adapts to extrauterine life. With further investigation, this technique may be useful in the assessment of preterm circulatory adaptation, either alone or in conjunction with other modes of evaluating cerebral blood flow.
