Changes in cerebral hemodynamics in preterm infants with and without patent ductus arteriosus

We compared anterior cerebral pulsatility index (ACPI), anterior cerebral mean flow velocity (ACMFV), common carotid pulsatility index (CPI) and common carotid mean flow velocity (CMFV) in three groups of preterm infants with birthweights less than 1500 grams: 6 without evidence of PDA (group A), 6 with PDA treated with fluid restriction, diuretics or digoxin (group B) and 6 with surgical ligation of PDA (group C). Infants were assessed in three time periods: the first four days of life, five days before surgical ligation and five days post-ligation. Analyses of variance showed no significant differences in the three groups for the four measures in time 1. In time 2, ACPI was 0.61 for group A, 0.58 for group B, 0.78 for group C (p less than 0.01). ACMFV was 9.22 for group A, 7.71 for group B, 6.37 for group C (p less than 0.05). CPI was 0.84 for group A, 0.83 for group B, 0.90 for group C (NS); CMFV was 7.80 for group A, 5.63 for group B, 4.28 for group C (p less than 0.01). In time 3, significant differences (p less than 0.01) were found only for CMFV.