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. 2022 Oct 29;60(1):27–32. doi: 10.1007/s13312-023-2690-y

Effect of Kangaroo Mother Care on Cerebral Hemodynamics in Preterm Neonates Assessed by Transcranial Doppler Sonography in Middle Cerebral Artery

Anal J Chaudhari 1, Somashekhar M Nimbalkar 1,2,✉, Dipen V Patel 1, Ajay G Phatak 2
PMCID: PMC9885412  PMID: 36333897

Abstract

Objective

To study the effect of KMC in premature newborns on cerebral hemodynamics in the middle cerebral artery (MCA) using transcranial doppler sonography.

Methods

In this descriptive study, 40 clinically stable preterm neonates admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of our institute and undergoing Kangaroo mother care (KMC) were enrolled. Physiological and cerebral blood flow parameters of MCA were obtained by using transcranial doppler sonography at baseline, at 60 minutes of KMC, and after 60 minutes of stopping KMC.

Results

Of the 40 enrolled neonates (24 males), the mean (SD) birth weight, gestation age, and postnatal age were 1698.25 (495.44) g, 33.00 (1.67) wk, and 6.80 (4.51) days, respectively. The mean (SD) cerebral blood flow velocities increased (peak systolic velocity (PSV), P=0.03; end diastolic velocity, P<0.001; mean velocity, P<0.001) and doppler indices decreased (resistive index, P=0.001; pulsatility index, P<0.001) significantly; whereas, heart rate (P<0.001) decreased but SpO2 (P=0.001) and mean blood pressure (P=0.003) increased significantly at 60 minutes of KMC as compared to baseline. Sixty minutes after stopping KMC, all parameters (except PSV) were higher than baseline, indicating post KMC effect.

Conclusion

KMC improves cerebral hemodynamics in clinically stable preterm neonates.

Keywords: Benefit, Cerebral blood flow, Neonatal care, Outcome

Contributors

AC: conceptualized and designed the study, undertook data collection, and reviewed and revised the manuscript; SN: conceptualized and designed the study, coordinated and supervised the analysis, and substantially reviewed and revised the manuscript; DP: conceptualized the study, contributed to the data collection, and reviewed and revised the manuscript; AP: conceptualized the study, conducted the analysis, and reviewed the manuscript for important intellectual content. All authors approved the final manuscript as submitted and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Funding

None

Ethics clearance

IEC, HM Patel Centre for Medical Care and Education; No. IEC/HMPCMCE/123/Faculty/2/246120, dated Oct 22, 2020.

Footnotes

Competing interests

None stated.

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