Comparison of clinical outcomes between active and permissive blood pressure management in extremely preterm infants.

Background: There remains uncertainty about the definition of normal blood pressure (BP), and when to initiate treatment for hypotension for extremely preterm infants. To determine the short-term outcomes of extremely preterm infants managed by active compared with permissive BP support regimens during the first 72 hours of life.

Method: This is a retrospective medical records review of 23 -28 weeks' gestational age (GA) infants admitted to neonatal units (NNU) with active BP support (aimed to maintain mean arterial BP (MABP) >30 mmHg irrespective of the GA) and permissive BP support (used medication only when babies developed signs of hypotension) regimens.

Variation between Clinician-Recorded and Downloaded Invasive Blood Pressure in Extremely Preterm Infants.

Objective: This study aimed to examine the variation between clinician-recorded and continuously downloaded invasive blood pressure (BP).

Study Design: Prospective study where invasive BP data were downloaded every 10 seconds for the first week of life. Hourly clinician-recorded BP was recorded.

Common carotid artery blood flow volume in extremely preterm infants.

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine carotid blood flow volume, a surrogate for cerebral blood flow, using Doppler ultrasound in extremely preterm infants.

Methods: In infants <29 weeks, right common carotid artery flow volume (RCCAF) was calculated from vessel diameter and intensity-weighted mean velocity measured using Doppler ultrasound on days 1 and 3. In addition, left ventricular output (LVO), ductus arteriosus characteristics and invasive mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) were obtained.