Intracranial compliance in infants: Evaluation with Doppler US

George A. Taylor, Michael D. Phillips, Rebecca N. Ichord, Benjamin S. Carson, Judy A. Gates, Carol S. James

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

39 Scopus citations

Abstract

PURPOSE: To test graded fontanelle compression during Doppler ultrasound (US) scanning to identify and monitor infants with altered cranial compliance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An ophthalmodynamometer exerted pressure on the anterior fontanelle during Doppler US scanning of the middle cerebral artery. Sixty examinations were performed in 43 infants-13 full-term and 11 premature healthy control subjects, 10 with increased intracranial volume, and nine with suspected abnormal cranial compliance but without increased intracranial volume. Resistive index (RI) and angle-corrected time-averaged mean velocities (TAV) of blood flow were compared at three different pressures. RESULTS: Baseline RI values in healthy full-term infants were significantly lower than in healthy premature infants and infants with abnormal compliance (P < .05). Values for healthy premature infants and infants with abnormal compliance were indistinguishable (P > .5). Neither RI nor TAV changed significantly in healthy infants, but both changed significantly with compression in infants with abnormal cranial compliance. CONCLUSION: This procedure may be more useful than measurement of RI of the anterior cerebral artery alone to evaluate infants with altered cranial compliance.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)787-791
Number of pages5
JournalRadiology
Volume191
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 1994

Keywords

  • Brain, edema
  • Brain, hydrocephalus
  • Brain, infection
  • Ultrasound (US), in infants and children

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging

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