Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 6, 2026
Non-invasive Optical Measurement of Cerebral Metabolism and Hemodynamics in Infants
Published on: March 14, 2013
Cerebral Blood Flow Indices During Immediate Skin-to-Skin Contact in Healthy Term Neonates: A Prospective
Somashekhar M Nimbalkar1, Satyender S Yadav2, Dipen V Patel2
1Department of Neonatology, Pramukhswami Medical College, Bhaikaka University, Karamsad, Gujarat, India and Central Research Services, Bhaikaka University, Karamsad, Gujarat, India. Correspondence to: Somashekhar M Nimbalkar, Professor and Head, Department of Neonatology, Pramukhswami Medical College, Bhaikaka University, Karamsad, Gujarat, India. somu_somu@yahoo.com.
Objective:
To evaluate the effect of skin-to-skin contact (SSC) started immediately after birth on cerebral blood flow (CBF) using middle cerebral artery (MCA) Doppler and vital parameters in stable-term infants.
Methods:
Clinically stable term newborns delivered through normal vaginal deliveries who only required routine care were included in this observational study through convenience sampling. Newborns with any congenital malformation or multiple gestation were excluded. Heart rate, oxygen saturation and CBF parameters of MCA [Peak systolic velocity (PSV), end diastolic velocity (EDV), mean velocity (MV), pulsatility index (PI) and resistive Index (RI)] were measured using transcranial Doppler sonography at 5, 20, 40, 60 minutes of SSC.
Results:
The mean (SD) gestational age was 38.4 (0.97) weeks. The mean CBF parameters of MCA Doppler viz., PSV, EDV, MV, and RI improved significantly at 60 min of SSC contact compared to baseline values except PI. Similarly, the physiological parameters viz; temperature, heart rate, and SPO2 showed significant improvement at 60 min of SSC care from baseline.
Conclusion:
SSC improves cerebral hemodynamics in hemodynamically stable term neonates.
