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

Aimann Surak; Adrianne Bischoff

doi:10.1016/j.pedneo.2024.01.001

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

Pediatr Neonatol. 2024 Jan 28:S1875-9572(24)00009-3. doi: 10.1016/j.pedneo.2024.01.001. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Aimann Surak¹, Adrianne Bischoff²

Affiliations

¹ Philip C. Etches Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, DTC 5027, 10240 Kingsway NW, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, T5H 3V9. Electronic address: aimann.surak@ahs.ca.
² University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital, Iowa City, IA, USA. Electronic address: adrianne-rahdebischoff@uiowa.edu.

PMID: 38341334
DOI: 10.1016/j.pedneo.2024.01.001

Abstract

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.

Keywords: PDA; Preterm infants; SVC flow.

Publication types

Review