Abstract
The cardiovascular effects of severe perinatal asphyxia was studied during the first 3 days of life by serial measurements of arterial blood pressure (ABP), central venous pressure (CVP) and M-mode echocardiograms in 10 fullterm infants (B.Wt. 3482 ± 214g, G.A. = 40.5 ± 0.98 wks. one minute Apgar Score = 2.2 ± 0.44) and was compared to 10 healthy infants matched for B.Wt. and G.A. During the first 8 hours of life, ABP (mean ± S.E.) in asphyxiated infants was 44.8 ± 2.4 mmHg, RPEP/RVET was 0.61 ± 0.07, LPEP/LVET was 0.40 ± 0.03 and the echocardiographically derived LV stroke volumes (LVSV) was 4.9 ± 0.66 ml and the aortic ejection area (AEA) was 97 ± 5 Cm-Msec. In the healthy infants, the corresponding values were: APB = 48.3 ± 1.8 mmHg, RPEP/RVET = 0.38 ± 0.03, LPEP/LVET = 0.33 ± 0.01, LVSV = 5.8 ± 0.31 ml and AEA = 127 ± 6 Cm-Msec. Except for elevated RPEP/RVET, there were no significant differences between asphyxiated and healthy infants at 24 and 48 hours of life. All asphyxiated infants had normal CVP for the first 8 hours and only one who subsequently expired, developed elevated CVP beyond the 24 hours of life. The presence LV failure and pulmonary hypertension in the absence of RV failure during the immediate post-partum period further supports the evidence for the vulnerability of LV during the transitional circulation and its contributory role in the genesis of the persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn.
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Siassi, B., Arce, P., Cabal, L. et al. 194 CARDIOVASCULAR EFFECTS OF PERINATAL ASPHYXIA IN FULL-TERM INFANTS. Pediatr Res 15 (Suppl 4), 472 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198104001-00203
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198104001-00203