Low systemic blood flow in the preterm infant.

Low systemic blood flow in the first hours after birth of a preterm infant is an often unrecognized complication. Traditional measures of cardiovascular adequacy used in the neonatal intensive care unit such as capillary refill time and blood pressure may not identify this problem. Longitudinal measurement of systemic blood flow demonstrates a falling off of blood flow in the first 6-12 h after birth, often to less than half of normal, before a gradual return to normal values by 24-48 h of age. Identification and appropriate treatment of this reduction in flow may assist in preventing some of the complications of prematurity.