The following is a summary of “Shape of Pulmonary Artery Doppler Flow Profile and Right Ventricular Hemodynamics in Neonates,” published in the December 2023 issue of Pediatrics by Joye et al.

This retrospective study, conducted across two tertiary neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) over four years, aimed to assess the pulmonary artery Doppler flow profile (PAFP) patterns in neonates under care and their correlation with pulmonary and right ventricular (RV) hemodynamics. The study included neonates who exhibited a complete tricuspid regurgitation envelope during targeted neonatal echocardiography (TNE). Trained personnel systematically reviewed the TNEs, categorizing the PAFP patterns observed. These patterns were then used to group the cohort, and various quantitative indices related to RV hemodynamics (such as RV systolic pressure, pulmonary artery acceleration time, the ratio of RV ejection time to pulmonary artery acceleration time, tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion, and RV output) were measured for intergroup comparisons. 

The analysis identified four distinct PAFP patterns: near-isosceles triangle, right-angled triangle, notching, and low peak velocity. Each pattern demonstrated specific associations with indices of pulmonary hypertension and RV function. This investigation suggests that examining PAFP through bedside echocardiography can offer valuable insights into RV hemodynamics, potentially aiding in the screening and monitoring pulmonary hypertension (PH) in neonatal care settings.

Source: sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S002234762300728X