Feasibility of Ultrafast Doppler technique for cranial ultrasound in neonates

The aim of this study was to compare the performances of Ultrafast Doppler ultrasound (US) with classic Doppler US, for cranial ultrasound in neonates.

We measured the peak systolic velocity (PSV), end-diastolic velocity (EDV) and resistive index (RI) of the anterior cerebral artery (ACA), middle cerebral artery (MCA) and posterior cerebral artery (PCA) in neonates using both conventional and Ultrafast Doppler US and acquisition times were compared. Distal ACA branches were assessed with Ultrafast Doppler US.

A total of 138 neonates were included. The PSV and EDV of the cranial arteries were comparable between the two Doppler methods (PSV, 64.6-85.5 cm/s vs. 63.4-84.1 cm/s, p=0.100-0.510; EDV, 19.1-26.5 cm/s vs. 17.8-24.2 cm/s, p=0.100-0.981). The RIs of the ACA and PCA were not significantly different (0.69-0.73 vs 0.68-0.74, p=0.174-0.810). Ultrafast Doppler US required shorter acquisition times than conventional Doppler US (6.7 s vs. 11.0 s, p=0.003). The PSV and EDV of the distal ACA were higher than the proximal ACA (20.1-63.3 cm/s vs. 9.4-36.7, p<0.001) although the RI was similar (0.69 vs. 0.68, p=0.251).

Ultrafast Doppler US provides comparable values to conventional Doppler US with shorter acquisition times. This novel imaging technique provides quantitative information and is suitable for distal cranial artery evaluation.