“The Effect Of Therapeutic Hypothermia On Blood Flow Velocities Of Middle Cerebral Artery, Celiac Artery, And Superior Mesenteric Artery In Term Neonates With Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy”

Abstract

Objective- To study the blood flow velocities in the middle cerebral artery, celiac artery and superior mesenteric artery in neonates requiring therapeutic hypothermic for hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy.

 Methods- The study included 30 neonates with gestational age greater than or equal to 36 weeks admitted to NICU within 6 hours of life. Doppler ultrasound was used to measure the blood flow velocities in middle cerebral artery, celiac artery and superior mesenteric artery during cooling and rewarming phases of therapeutic hypothermia. Blood flow velocities were determined and resistive index was calculated.

Results- The mean increase in RI in middle cerebral artery from cooling to rewarming phase was statistically significant with p value of 0.032. However, the mean increase in RI in superior mesenteric artery and celiac arteries from cooling to rewarming phases were statistically insignificant.

Conclusion- The resistive index in the middle cerebral artery increased significantly during the rewarming phase of therapeutic hypothermia.