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Inclusion of extremes of prematurity in ventricular index centile charts

Journal of Perinatology volume 35, pages 439–443 (2015)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Objective:

To assess the relationship between ventricular index (VI) measurements and postmenstrual age in preterm infants and to generate centile charts and normal ranges for frontal horn ratio (FHR) for a large contemporary cohort of preterm infants.

Study Design:

A retrospective cohort study of 253 infants with birth gestation less than 32 weeks admitted between January 2009 and December 2011 to a tertiary NICU in Ireland.

Results:

A total of 816 cranial ultrasounds were reviewed. Data collected were grouped according to postmenstrual age at the time of scan from 23 weeks to 45 weeks. Median values for VI show a general trend to increase with gestation. FHR did not significantly change with postmenstrual age at scan with a median value of 0.31.

Conclusion:

There is a slight increase in VI as gestation at the time of scans increases. These results provide the basis for updated centile charts which we propose for current practice.

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Acknowledgements

This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

Author Contributions

MB: Dr Boyle conceptualized and designed the study, carried out analysis of data, drafted the initial manuscript and approved the final manuscript as submitted. RS: Ms Shim collected data, carried out analysis of data, critically reviewed the manuscript and approved the final manuscript as submitted. RG: Mr Gnanasekaran collected data, carried out analysis of data, critically reviewed the manuscript and approved the final manuscript as submitted. AT: Dr Tarrant coordinated and supervised data collection; training of data collectors, acquired ultrasound images, critically reviewed the manuscript and approved the final manuscript as submitted. SR: Dr Ryan coordinated and supervised data collection; training of data collectors, acquired ultrasound images, critically reviewed the manuscript and approved the final manuscript as submitted. AF: Dr Foran conceptualized and designed the study, critically reviewed the manuscript and approved the final manuscript as submitted. NM: Prof McCallion conceptualized and designed the study, designed the data collection instruments, coordinated and supervised data collection, critically reviewed the manuscript and approved the final manuscript as submitted.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Paediatrics, Rotunda Hospital, Dublin, Ireland

    M Boyle, A Foran & N McCallion

  2. Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland

    M Boyle, R Shim, R Gnanasekaran, A Foran & N McCallion

  3. Department of Radiology, Rotunda Hospital, Dublin, Ireland

    A Tarrant & S Ryan

  4. Children’s University Hospital, Temple St, Dublin, Ireland

    A Tarrant, S Ryan, A Foran & N McCallion

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  1. M Boyle
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Correspondence to M Boyle.

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Boyle, M., Shim, R., Gnanasekaran, R. et al. Inclusion of extremes of prematurity in ventricular index centile charts. J Perinatol 35, 439–443 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2014.219

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