Archives of disease in childhood
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Comparative Study
Cerebrovascular carbon dioxide reactivity and failure of autoregulation in preterm infants.
Changes in cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFV) in response to a rise in arterial carbon dioxide tension (PaCO2) in 94 ventilated preterm infants were determined using Doppler ultrasound to assess whether the nature of this change might predict subsequent neurological injury. Concomitant changes in mean arterial pressure (MAP) were recorded. Both CBFV and MAP rose significantly in response to the rise in PaCO2, the response being significantly less in the first 24 hours. ⋯ This dependency lasted for the duration of paralysis. Changes in CBFV after a rise in PaCO2 did not predict subsequent neurological injury. The influence of pancuronium on cerebrovascular regulation warrants further study.