Cerebral blood flow and EEG changes in preterm infants with patent ductus arteriosus

• Published in: Pediatric neurology Vol. 12; no. 2; pp. 114 - 119
• Main Authors: Kurtis, Peter S., Rosenkrantz, Ted S., Zalneraitis, Edwin L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.02.1995; Elsevier
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Blood Flow Velocity - physiology; Brain - blood supply; Brain - physiopathology; Cardiology. Vascular system; Cerebral Cortex - blood supply; Cerebral Cortex - physiopathology; Congenital heart diseases. Malformations of the aorta, pulmonary vessels and vena cava; Ductus Arteriosus, Patent - physiopathology; Ductus Arteriosus, Patent - surgery; Electroencephalography - instrumentation; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Fourier Analysis; Heart; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Premature, Diseases - physiopathology; Infant, Premature, Diseases - surgery; Male; Medical sciences; Photic Stimulation; Postoperative Complications - physiopathology; Reference Values; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted - instrumentation; Human; Premature; Regional blood flow; Respiratory disease; Persistent fetal circulation; Central nervous system; Cardiovascular disease; Exploration; Electroencephalography; Ductus arteriosus; Congenital disease; Electrodiagnosis; Heart disease; Child; Brain (vertebrata)
• ISSN: 0887-8994; 1873-5150
• DOI: 10.1016/0887-8994(94)00150-Z

It is unknown whether the decreased cerebral blood flow seen in infants with a large patent ductus arteriosus is associated with cerebral dysfunction. Decreased cerebral blood flow in adult human and animal models has been associated with altered electroencephalography (EEG), spectral-analyzed EEG, and EEG response to photic stimulation. Cerebral blood flow velocity, EEG, spectral analysis of EEG, and photic alteration of EEG spectra were evaluated in 8 infants before and after closure of a significant patent ductus arteriosus and in 10 control infants without a patent ductus arteriosus. All infants with patent ductus arteriosus had moderate or large shunts associated with a 25% mean reduction in cerebral blood flow velocity. There were no differences, however, in EEG, spectral analysis of EEG, or photic alteration of the spectral analysis for these infants before and after patent ductus arteriosus closure as compared to controls. It is concluded that the degree of decreased cerebral blood flow in infants with a significant patent ductus arteriosus is not sufficient to cause measurable alteration in electrocortical activity.