Reactivity of skin blood flow and heart rate to external thermal stimulation in anencephaly

Acta Paediatr. 1997 Apr;86(4):426-7. doi: 10.1111/j.1651-2227.1997.tb09036.x.

Abstract

Oscillations of skin blood flow and heart rate can be synchronised using external rhythmic thermal stimulation in healthy adults and infants. We examined the effect of thermal stimulation on the cutaneous circulation and heart rate of an anencephalic neonate using cutaneous laser Doppler flowmetry and ECG monitoring. The results suggest that synchronisation of SBF and HR to thermal stimulation can also be induced in an anencephalic newborn.

MeSH terms

  • Anencephaly / physiopathology*
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Female
  • Heart Rate / physiology*
  • Hot Temperature*
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Periodicity
  • Peripheral Nervous System / physiology
  • Regional Blood Flow / physiology
  • Skin / blood supply*