FUNCTIONAL ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY IN VERY PRETERM INFANTS: ESTABLISHING NORMATIVE PARAMETERS AND CLINICALAPPLICATIONS IN AN INDIAN NICU

Background: Functional echocardiography (FnECHO) plays a crucial role in assessing cardiovascular status in very preterm infants, yet limited normative data is available from Indian NICU settings. Objective: To evaluate the clinical application of FnECHO and establish normative echocardiography parameters in very preterm neonates in an Indian tertiary NICU. Materials and Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted on 82 neonates <32 weeks gestation at Mahatma Gandhi Hospital, Jaipur, between November 2023 and July 2024. Echocardiography parameters, including tricuspid A-wave, TAPSE, RVOT, and LVOT outputs, were assessed. Clinical variables such as gestational age, birth weight, respiratory support requirement, and timing of scan were recorded. Results: Of the enrolled neonates, 74.4% were between 28–32 weeks gestation. The mean TAPSE was 0.7 cm and LVOT output was 145 mL/kg/min. FnECHO scans performed within 24 hours inuenced management decisions in 47.5% of cases, especially regarding uid therapy and respiratory support. Conclusion: FnECHO is a valuable, non-invasive tool guiding early clinical decisions in very preterm neonates. Dening normative parameters in the Indian population can optimize individualized care and improve outcomes.