Sonographic QUantification of Venous Circulation In the Preterm Brain

The aim of the study is to develop an accessible, reproducible ultrasound tool for objective clinical measurement of brain circulation in preterm infants in order to identify infants being at risk for preterm brain injury at an early stage. In the future, the results of this study might be useful to select those infants for early interventions aimed at preventing brain injury. In this study we will identify the normative values of the internal cerebral vein velocity in a reference cohort of stable preterm infants. This stable group of preterm infants is defined as all preterm infants with a birth weight appropriate for gestational age, and without major complications (such as a severe intracranial hemorrhage, severe hemodynamical instability, birth asphyxia) or major congenital malformations. In this group we will identify subgroups based on moments of clinical instability (sepsis, temporary hypotension, NEC, need for invasive respiratory support) or based on outcome parameters (IVH, PVL, developmental outcomes)