Non-Invasive Regional Oxygen Saturation Measurement in the Preterm Neonate

Abstract

There are several, predictable complications of prematurity that are faced by premature infants. Patent ductus arteriosus is among them. This study is an evaluation of a near infrared spectroscopy device to see if the premature infants can be monitored in order to detect significant ductal steal secondary to symptomatic PDA. We hypothesize that in these cases, there would be a difference between renal and cerebral regional oxygenation. To evaluate a difference, it is essential to first establish baseline regional oxygenation values, which are scarce in current literature. There are many pathophysiologic states experienced by premature infants, such as hypoxic spells and intraventricular hemorrhage, which may affect the data. Therefore, the effects of abnormal brain activity on cerebral monitoring are also evaluated. Our preliminary data shows a mean cerebral reading of 77.5189 and a mean renal reading of 70.9105, both without any linear trends. Now that normative data for regional oxygen saturation in the preterm neonate has been established, this opens up a pathway for the study of additional states, such as the left to right shunt of sPDA, since there is now a standard for comparison.