NON-INVASIVE MONITORING OF HAEMODYNAMICS DURING SEPSIS IN NEONATAL PATIENTS

Abstract

Aim. To determine the haemodynamic parameters and their changes during neonatal sepsis using the non-invasive ultrasonic cardiac output monitor (USCOM). Methods. A prospective, observational study was conducted at Vilnius University hospital Santaros klinikos Center of Neonatology on 32 neonates of any gestation with suspected or proven sepsis. They all underwent USCOM examination at the very beginning of the illness and later. Confirmation of sepsis diagnosis was based on clinical examination and laboratory tests results. To verify the independence of qualitative variables, the criterion of chi square or the Fisher‘s test were applied. Differencies were considered statistically significant, when the p value was <0.05. Results. The diagnosis of systemic infection was confirmed in 59.4% of patients. Analysis of hemodynamic parameters at the onset of the sepsis revealed abnormalities of cardiovascular status. Conclusions. Neonatal sepsis is accompanied by hemodynamic changes. USCOM can be successfully used as a point-of-care instrument to assess these changes at the early stage of the disease and later.