Cerebral Blood Flow Velocity Hemodynamic Values in Critically Ill Infants Under One Year of Age

The motivation for this research is improve understanding of the consequences of cardiac critical care to cerebral blood flow (CBF). It is especially important to understand the implications thereof in critically ill children under one year of age. Cerebral blood flow velocities (CBFV) are widely used in assessing cerebral hemodynamics in critically ill adults but rarely, if ever, in critically ill infants. The purpose of this work is to fill an important gap in the knowledge base of critically ill infants regarding both anthropometric measurements and cerebral blood flow velocity hemodynamics. This thesis describes the largest study to date in 125 hospitalized and primarily critically ill children under one year of age in both the neonatal and pediatric intensive care units. For each subject, anthropometric measurements and hemodynamic values were measured. Normative values were found and compared with those of a healthy population, and comparisons were made between hemodynamics and physical values such as age, birth weight, and head circumference, among other factors. Correlative values were determined and significance was noted so that the data could be applied immediately for the benefit of infant health. Advisor: Gregory R. Bashfor