Repeatability of echocardiographic parameters to evaluate the hemodynamic relevance of patent ductus arteriosus in preterm infants: a prospective observational study

摘要

BackgroundThe hemodynamically relevant patent ductus arteriosus in preterm infants is not well defined. Different clinical and echocardiographic parameters are used and the diagnostic accuracy is unknown because of the lack of a gold standard definition. Our study evaluates the inter-observer repeatability of echocardiographic and Doppler-ultrasound parameters.