Ultrasonographic study of ductus venosus in healthy neonates
a Department of
Paediatrics, Ullevål University Hospital, N-0407
Oslo, Norway, b Department of Informatics, c Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Haukeland University Hospital Bergen
Norway
Correspondence to: Dr Drude Fugelseth.
Accepted 31 January
1997
AIM
To assess ultrasonographically the flow
pattern and the time of postnatal closure of ductus venosus related to
the other fetal shunts.
METHODSFifty healthy, term neonates were studied
from day 1 up to day 18 using a VingMed CFM 800A ultrasound scanner.
RESULTSDuctus arteriosus was closed in 94% of
the infants before day 3. Ductus venosus, however, was closed in only
12% at the same time, in 76% before day 7, and in all infants before
day 18. A closed ductus venosus or ductus arteriosus did not show signs of reopening. Pulsed and colour Doppler flow could be detected across
the foramen ovale in all infants during the sequential investigation.
At day 1, when the pulmonary vascular resistance was still high, a
reversed Doppler flow velocity signal was seen in ductus venosus in 10 infants (20%) and a bidirectional flow in ductus arteriosus in 26 (52%). Closure of the ductus venosus was not significantly correlated
with closure of the ductus arteriosus nor related to sex nor weight loss.
CONCLUSIONSThe time of closure of the ductus
venosus evaluated by ultrasonography is much later than that of
the ductus arteriosus. The flow pattern in ductus venosus reflects the
portocaval pressure gradient and the pressure on the right side of the
heart and in the pulmonary arteries. Both the flow pattern in the
ductus venosus as well as that in the ductus arteriosus may be an
indication of compromised neonatal haemodynamics.
© 1997 by Archives of Disease in Childhood
CiteULike 
Complore 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us 
Digg 
Reddit 
Technorati What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
-
Murayama, K, Nagasaka, H, Tate, K, Ohsone, Y, Kanazawa, M, Kobayashi, K, Kohno, Y, Takayanagi, M
(2006). Significant correlations between the flow volume of patent ductus venosus and early neonatal liver function: possible involvement of patent ductus venosus in postnatal liver function. Arch. Dis. Child. Fetal Neonatal Ed.
91: F175-F179
[Abstract] [Full Text] -
Tillett, A, Hartley, B, Simpson, J
(2001). Paradoxical embolism causing fatal myocardial infarction in a newborn infant. Arch. Dis. Child. Fetal Neonatal Ed.
85: F137-138
[Abstract] [Full Text] -
Kondo, M, Itoh, S, Kunikata, T, Kusaka, T, Ozaki, T, Isobe, K, Onishi, S
(2001). Time of closure of ductus venosus in term and preterm neonates. Arch. Dis. Child. Fetal Neonatal Ed.
85: F57-59
[Abstract] [Full Text]
- Full Text
- Full Text (PDF)
- Submit a response
- Alert me when this article is cited
- Alert me when eLetters are posted
- Alert me if a correction is posted
- Citation Map
Services
- Email this link to a friend
- Similar articles in ADC Online
- Similar articles in PubMed
- Add article to my folders
- Download to citation manager
- Request Permissions
Citing Articles
Google Scholar
PubMed
Topic Collections
Bookmark with
Register for free content
The full back archive is now available for all BMJ Journals. Institutional subscribers may access the entire archive as part of their subscription. Personal subscribers will also have access to all content when logged in. Non-subscribers who register have free access to all articles published before 2006 right back to volume 1 issue 1. Register here to access the free archive of all BMJ Journals.
Don't forget to sign up for content alerts so you keep up to date with all the articles as they are published.
