[Renal hemodynamics studied by Doppler echography in newborn infants]

The author describes a method for renal blood flow examination in the newborns making use of a lateral position of the sensor. Under study were linear blood stream velocity, time mean maximal velocity and time mean velocity, resistance index; renal artery diameter was measured and the minute and stroke renal perfusion was calculated. Three basic types of dopplerographic curves were distinguished: those characteristic of normal blood flow, of renal vascular spasm (no diastolic blood flow), and of drastic microcirculation disturbances (pendulum-like blood flow). Renal artery dopplerography is an informative method useful to elucidate renal blood flow status.