Background: Pre-term birth remains a leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. Pre-term neonates are particularly vulnerable to cerebral perfusion instability due to immature autoregulatory mechanisms, placing them at risk of neurodevelopmental impairment. Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) is a cost-effective intervention known to improve systemic stability and developmental outcomes. However, its effects on cerebral hemodynamics, especially in the anterior cerebral artery (ACA), remain insufficiently studied. Aims and Objectives: This study was designed to evaluate the effect of KMC on cerebral blood flow in pre-term neonates using transcranial Doppler sonography. Materials and Methods: This hospital-based analytical cross-sectional study was conducted at Dr. Sampurnanand Medical College, Jodhpur. Fifty pre-term neonates (28–36 weeks gestation) were enrolled after meeting strict inclusion and exclusion criteria. Baseline systemic vitals (heart rate, respiratory rate, temperature, blood pressure, oxygen saturation SpO2) and ACA hemodynamic indices peak systolic velocity (PSV), end-diastolic velocity, mean velocity (MV), resistive index (RI), and pulsatility index (PI), were recorded. Following 1-h KMC sessions on two consecutive days, all parameters were reassessed. Results: Systemic parameters remained stable except for significant improvements in SpO2 after KMC (Day 1: P=0.0008; Day 2: P<0.0001). Doppler analysis revealed no significant changes in PSV or MV, but RI and PI in the ACA decreased significantly after KMC on both days (Day 1: RI P=0.0001, PI P<0.0001; Day 2: RI P<0.0001, PI P<0.0001), indicating reduced cerebral vascular resistance and improved perfusion efficiency. Conclusion: KMC significantly improves SpO2 and reduces cerebral vascular resistance, suggesting enhanced cerebral perfusion in pre-term neonates. These findings reinforce KMC as a safe, low-cost intervention with potential neuroprotective benefits.
Kasana et al. (2026) studied this question.