Relationship between blood pressure, cerebral electrical activity, cerebral fractional oxygen extraction, and peripheral blood flow in very low birth weight newborn infants.

Suresh Victor, AG Marson, RE Appleton, M Beirne, AM Weindling

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

86 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

There is uncertainty about the level of systemic blood pressure required to
maintain adequate cerebral oxygen delivery and organ integrity. This prospective,
observational study on 35 very low birth weight infants aimed to determine the
mean blood pressure (MBP) below which cerebral electrical activity, peripheral
blood flow (PBF), and cerebral fractional oxygen extraction (CFOE) are abnormal.
Digital EEG, recorded every day on the first 4 d after birth, were analyzed a) by
automatic spectral analysis, b) by manual measurement of interburst interval, and
c) qualitatively. CFOE and PBF measurements were performed using near-infrared
spectroscopy and venous occlusion. MBP was measured using arterial catheters. The
median (range) of MBP recorded was 32 mm Hg (16-46). The EEG became abnormal at
MBP levels below 23 mm Hg: a) the relative power of the delta (0.5-3.5 Hz)
frequency band was decreased, b) interburst intervals were prolonged, and c) all
four qualitatively abnormal EEG (low amplitude and prolonged interburst
intervals) from four different patients were recorded below this MBP level. The
only abnormally high CFOE was measured at MBP of 20 mm Hg. PBF decreased at MBP
levels between 23 and 33 mm Hg. None of the infants in this study developed
cystic periventricular leukomalacia. One infant (MBP, 22 mm Hg) developed
ventricular dilatation after intraventricular hemorrhage. The EEG and CFOE
remained normal at MBP levels above 23 mm Hg. It would appear that cerebral
perfusion is probably maintained at MBP levels above 23 mm Hg.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)314-9
JournalPediatric Research
Volume59
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2006

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