Association Between Early Echocardiography Screening of Low Systemic Blood Flow and Intraventricular Hemorrhage in Preterm Infants: a Multicenter Study

Abstract Objective To determine whether early screening for low systemic blood flow is associated with reduced intraventricular hemorrhage in preterm infants. Study design Prospective, observational multicenter study in nine neonatal intensive care units. Preterm infants younger than 33 weeks of gestational age were eligible. The exposure was protocolized early echocardiography screening for low systemic blood flow. Our main outcome was ≥ grade II intraventricular hemorrhage or death within the first 7 days of life. The main analysis used the inverse probability of treatment weighting based on propensity scores. Results 332 preterm infants (131 in the intervention group and 201 in the control group) were included. Early echocardiography screening was associated with a significant reduction in ≥ grade II intraventricular hemorrhage or early death [odds ratio 0.285 (95% CI: 0.133–0.611); p = 0.001]. Conclusions Early echocardiography screening for low systemic blood flow may reduce the incidence of intraventricular hemorrhage in preterm infants.