[Doppler echocardiography in the evaluation of volume expansion effects in newborn infants]

The effects of volume expansion on the cardiac output (CO) of newborns have not been studied, so that the indications for colloid infusion are not well standardized.

Twenty one newborns (14 preterm and seven term babies) were studied before the 7th day of life. Thirteen had patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) and six had ischemic cardiopathy. Hemodynamic data indicated that these babies should be given 20 ml/kg of a 10% albumin solution. Pulsed-wave Doppler echocardiography was performed before and after infusion.

Only 11 newborns had initial low Co (less than 260 ml/kg/min in patients with PDA; less than 200 ml/kg/min in the others). The increases in CO (31 +/- 25% vs 7 +/- 11%, P < 0.01) and of mean aortic flow velocity (MAFV) (34.6 +/- 19.5% vs 7.2 +/- 6.1%, P < 0.01) were significantly greater in this group. The increases in mean arterial pressure (+4 +/- 5 mmHg) and CO (+20 +/- 18%) were significant (P < 0.01) for all patients, both premature and term (with or without PDA and ischemic cardiopathy). The increase in CO was correlated with the initial CO and the cutaneous refilling time but was not correlated with the increase in arterial pressure. The sizes of the ventricles and left atrium grew significantly but that of the right atrium did not. Analysis of the increase in stroke volume in terms of the end diastolic diameter of the left ventricle indicated that the cardiac reserves varied according to the Starling relation.

Evaluation of MAFV and CO plus diagnosis of PDA are all needed in order to assess whether volume expansion is accurate or not, since, clinical data obtained during the neonatal period are insufficient to do this.