[Non-invasive monitoring of cerebral hemodynamics in the newborn].

The regulation of cerebral blood flow (CBF) is a determinant factor amongst the mechanisms involved in the development of neonatal brain lesions. Therefore it has been the main objective of many investigators in recent decades, seeking reliable techniques for measurement of cerebral haemodynamic parameters. However, the use of different techniques to assess brain haemodynamics has been limited by various factors including: harmlessness of the technique, its ease of use and accuracy of measurement. In this paper we aim to show how, using these techniques, together with sufficient understanding of neonatal pathophysiology, we can obtain better understanding of antenatal and perinatal factors responsible for cerebral damage, and the effect of this lesion on development. Besides using these findings to prevent specific disorders, we will obtain the advantage of an appropriate medical and neurosurgical treatment, with lower risk of neurological sequelae.