Normal Values of Third Ventricular Width of Preterm Infants

Özet

Objectives: Although the third ventricle width reference ranges obtained by cranial ultrasonography in term infants are known in the literature. There is no adequate up-to-date data regarding the reference ranges of third ventricle width in premature infants. In our study, we aimed to obtain the normal ref-erence values of third ventricle width and the third ventricle related param-eters in preterm infants (gestational age [GA]<38 weeks).Materials and Methods: In our study 156 early preterm infants (GA<32 weeks) and 64 moderately-late preterm infants (GA≥32 and <38weeks) were included. Weights and head circumference of all infants were measured be-fore cranial ultrasonography (C-US). The right and left lateral ventricle an-terior horn width (AHW), ventricular index (VI) and third ventricle width were recorded through C-US. Study data was divided into 2 groups as early preterm infants and moderately-late preterm infants.Results: Third ventricle was successfully measured in all preterm infants. While the frequency of cesarean section operations was significantly high-er, weights and head circumferences were significantly lower (p<0.05) in ear-ly preterm infants. R-AHW, L-AHW, R-VI, L-VI values were significantly higher in moderately-late preterm infants compared to early preterm infants (p<0.05). Mean±SD, median, minimum and maximum third ventricle di-ameters in early preterm infants were 1.27±0.33mm, 1.20mm, 0.50mm and 1.90mm respectively. Through univariate analysis, GA, R-AHW, L-AHW, R-VI, L-VI values were found to have an association with third ventricle di-ameters. Linear regression analysis revealed that only GA and R-AHW were independently associated with third ventricle (beta: 0.611, p<0.001 and beta: 0.141, p=0.011, respectively).Conclusion: The third ventricle width obtained through C-US is significant-ly lower in early preterm infants than in moderately late term infants and is independently associated with GA values. The results of our study are criti-cal to the identification of third ventricle dilation in preterm infants in a clin-ical environment.