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Shape of Pulmonary Artery Doppler Flow Profile and Right Ventricular Hemodynamics in Neonates
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Shape of Pulmonary Artery Doppler Flow Profile and Right Ventricular Hemodynamics in Neonates

Sébastien Joye, Soume Bhattacharya, Ashraf Kharrat, Bonny Jasani, Regan E Giesinger, Patrick J McNamara and Amish Jain
The Journal of pediatrics, Vol.266, 113864
03/2024
DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2023.113864
PMID: 38052293
url
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpeds.2023.113864View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

OBJECTIVES To characterize pulmonary artery Doppler flow profile (PAFP) patterns among infants receiving care in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) and to examine the association of PAFP patterns with pulmonary and right ventricular (RV) hemodynamics .STUDY DESIGN This is a retrospective study at two tertiary NICUs over 4 years that included neonates who demonstrated a complete tricuspid regurgitation envelope on targeted neonatal echocardiography (TNE). Separate personnel reviewed TNEs to characterize PAFP patterns, divide cohort into PAFP groups, and measure quantitative indices of RV hemodynamics (RV systolic pressure [RVSP], pulmonary artery acceleration time [PAAT] and its ratio with RV ejection time [RVET/PAAT], tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion [TAPSE] and RV output [RVO]), for intergroup comparisons. RESULTS We evaluated TNEs from 186 neonates with median (IQR) gestational age of 28.5 weeks (25.9-35.9) weeks. Four distinct PAFP patterns were identified: A. near-isosceles triangle (22%), B. right-angled triangle (29%), C. notching (40%), and D. low peak velocity (<0.4 m/s; 9%). Groups A-C demonstrated a stepwise worsening in all indices of PH, while pattern D was associated with lower TAPSE and RVO. Using common definitions of pulmonary hypertension (PH), pattern A performed best to rule out PH [sensitivity range 81-90%] and pattern C for diagnosing PH [specificity range 63-78%]. CONCLUSIONS Inspection of PAFP is a simple bedside echocardiography measure that provides clinically meaningful information on underlying RV hemodynamics and may aid in screening and monitoring of patients for PH in NICUs.

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