Preliminary note: vertebral-Doppler sonography in near sudden infant death syndrome (NSIDS).

Using vertebral artery sonography, we investigated the influence of the position of the head on the vertebral artery bloodflow in five children, who were admitted because of NSIDS (near sudden infant death syndrome) episodes. Three out of the five children showed blocking of vertebral bloodflow determined by position of the head. This was not observed in five age-matched controls. Our preliminary observations indicate the value of noninvasive ultrasound Doppler techniques in the diagnostic work in the children with NSIDS. In this way one of the risk factors for SIDS might be identified.