Abstract
Acetazolamlde is being increasingly used for the treatment of post-haemorrhagic ventricular dilatation. The aims of this study were to determine what effects acetazolamde had on cerebral blood flow, intra cranial pressure, and respiration in newborn infants7 infants were studied. 6 had post-haemorrhagic ventricular dilatation and one had external hydrocephalus. They received their first dose of acetazolamide 50 rag/kg IV at a postnatal age ranging from 2 to 17 weeks. Measurements of mean average cerebral blood velocity (CBV) were made from the middle cerebral artery using the duplex Doppler Vingmed CFM 700 system. Intracranial pressure was measured invaaively in 5 infants and with a fontanometer in 2.CBV increased in all cases by a median of 86% Maximum increase was reached within 2-15 minutes after slow IV injection. The duration of the effect varied from 30 minutes to more than 3.5 hours. Intracranial pressure increased in 5 infanta by a median of 7 mm Hg and was unchanged In 2. PCO2 rose by median of 0.2 kPa (range 0.2 to 0.6 kPa) and then fell as the respiratory rate increased by approximately 10 breaths/minute.
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