A model of the instantaneous pressure-velocity relationships of the neonatal cerebral circulation

Physiol Meas. 1993 Nov;14(4):411-8. doi: 10.1088/0967-3334/14/4/002.

Abstract

The instantaneous relationship between arterial blood pressure (BP) and cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFV), measured with Doppler ultrasound in the anterior cerebral artery, is represented by a vascular waterfall model comprising vascular resistance, compliance, and critical closing pressure. One min recordings obtained from 61 low birth weight newborns were fitted to the model using a least-squares procedures with correction for the time delay between the BP and CBFV signals. A sensitivity analysis was performed to study the effects of low-pass filtering (LPF), cutoff frequency, and noise on the estimated parameters of the model. Results indicate excellent fitting of the model (F-test, p < 0.0001) when the BP and CBFV signals are LPF at 7.5 Hz. Reconstructed CBFV waveforms using the BP signal and the model parameters have a mean correlation coefficient of 0.94 with the measured flow velocity tracing (N = 232 epochs). The model developed can be useful for interpreting clinical findings and as a framework for research into cerebral autoregulation.

MeSH terms

  • Blood Flow Velocity / physiology
  • Blood Pressure / physiology
  • Cerebrovascular Circulation / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Infant, Low Birth Weight / physiology*
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Models, Biological*
  • Time Factors