Should SVC flow be a routine measure when performing targeted neonatal echocardiography? A narrative review.

Unlabelled: Superior vena cava is commonly used in neonatal hemodynamics and is suggested to be the best available non-invasive marker for systemic circulation in preterm infants. Inter- and intra-observer variability remain to be an issue. Its association with neonatal outcomes is has not been established. This is a narrative review about this marker, its use, and its potential pitfalls.

Objective: This is a narrative review about SVC flow in preterm infants, physiology, techniques of measurement and its potential association with outcomes.

Sources: Literature revie mainly PubMED.

Summary Of The Findings: SVC flow measurement has some limitations and pitfalls.

Conclusions: SVC flow association with neonatal outcomes, still needs to be established in further research.