[M-mode echocardiography: determination of morphological parameters in the normal newborn infant]

The purpose of this study is to establish normal echocardiographic values of 25 parameters in the newborn infants. The study group is composed of 100 normal, healty neonates (of 72 to 96 hours of age), from whom echocardiograms and measurements were obtained in a standardized manner. Criteria have been established for a complete echocardiographic profile in the full-term newborn. In addition, attempts have been made to correlate the most relevant measurements with body surface area. No significant correlation was found to exist in the small range we have studied (BSA = 0,16 - 0,26 m2).