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Heart 1998;80:281-285; doi:10.1136/hrt.80.3.281
Copyright © 1998 BMJ Publishing Group Ltd & British Cardiovascular Society

Heart 1998;80:281-285 ( September )

Reference ranges for cardiac dimensions and blood flow velocity in preterm infants

R Skelton,a A B Gill,a J M Parsonsb

a Peter Congden Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Leeds General Infirmary, Leeds, UK, b Department of Paediatric Cardiology, Leeds General Infirmary

Correspondence to: Dr R Skelton, Department of Neonatology, Hull Maternity Hospital, Hedon Road, Hull HU9 5LX, UK.

Accepted for publication 30 April 1998

Aim---To establish reference ranges for cardiac dimensions and Doppler measurements in preterm infants.
Methods---79 infants of less than 34 weeks' gestation were examined by echocardiography on days 0, 7, and 28 after birth, to produce a set of reference ranges and to examine changes in these indices over the first month of life. The following dimensions were measured: interventricular septum, left ventricular posterior wall, left interventricular diameter at end systole and diastole, left atrium, and aortic root; Doppler measurements were made of maximum blood flow velocity (Vmax) through the pulmonary, aortic, mitral, and tricuspid valves.
Results---Reference ranges are given. Cardiac dimensions correlated well with gestation and birth weight but Vmax did not. There was a significant increase in measurements over time. The "normal" preterm infant also appeared to often have asymmetrical septal hypertrophy. Antenatal dexamethasone administration did not appear to affect the measurements.
Conclusions---There is a close correlation with both gestation and birth weight for all physical measurements. Echocardiograms in preterm babies clearly differ from those in older children and adults.

Keywords: cardiac dimensions;  blood flow velocity;  preterm infant

© 1998 by Heart
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