ABSTRACT
Background: Perinatal asphyxia is an important cause for neonatal morbidity and mortality which affects multiple body organs. Myocardium is one of the organs which could be severely affected and this can leads to compromise of the systemic blood flow. Recently Superior vena cava [SVC] flow is usecl to asses' systemic blood flow
Aim of the work: The aim of this work was to study cardiac output changes using SVC flow in neonates with perinatal hypoxia
Subjects and Methods: This observational prospective study was conducted between March 2015 and August 2[]15 at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit [NICU] and the normal neonaral ward of Alexandria University Hospital [Al-Shatby] on 30 asphyxiated full term neonates [Group I] and 30 healthy full term neonates [Group Il].Superior yena cava [SVC] flow was measured in the first 3 days of life by Doppler echocardiography using Kluckow and Evans method
Results: Superior yena cava [SVC] flow at 12, 24, 48, 72 hours of Group I was significantly lower than that of Group II. The pattern of change in Superior vena cava[SVC] flow in Group l [asphyxiated] was the slow gradual increase over the period of the study in Superior vena cava [SVC] flow in Group II [normal] is the decrease in mean SVC flow from 91.4 ml/kg/min at Day 1 to 80.8 ml/kg/min at Day 3
Conclusion: In conclusion, the assessment Superior vena cava [SVC] flow changes in the early neonatal period is likely to be of great importance in predicting rnyocardial dysfunction. Developing a functional echocardiography [fEHO] service will provide the important hemodynamic information which is critical in the management of asphyxiated infants