Closure of the ductus venosus in premature infants: findings on real-time gray-scale, color-flow Doppler, and duplex Doppler sonography.

Objective: Our objective was to use gray-scale, color-flow, and duplex Doppler sonography to study the anatomy, flow pattern, and time of closure of the ductus venosus in healthy premature infants.

Subjects And Methods: We prospectively examined the ductus venosus in 130 premature infants whom we divided into two groups: Group I comprised 27 neonates of gestational age 28-32 weeks, and group II comprised 103 neonates of gestational age 33-36 weeks. Neonates who had undergone umbilical vessel manipulation were excluded from the study.

High prevalence of muscular ventricular septal defect in preterm neonates.

Isolated muscular ventricular septal defect was identified in 9 of 159 consecutive preterm neonates by color Doppler echocardiography, a prevalence of 56.6/1,000 live births. The neonates with ventricular septal defects appear clinically healthy, and in 87.

Closure of the ductus venosus in neonates: findings on real-time gray-scale, color-flow Doppler, and duplex Doppler sonography.

Objective: Our objective was to document the anatomy, flow pattern, and time of closure of the ductus venosus in healthy full-term neonates.

Subjects And Methods: We examined the ductus venosus in 73 neonates by using gray-scale sonography, color flow imaging, and duplex Doppler sonography. Each neonate was examined 1-2 days after birth, 6-7 days after birth, and then every 3-4 days until closure was confirmed or the neonate was 18 days old.