Monitoring cerebral oxygenation of preterm infants using a neonatal specific sensor

Introductioncerebral oxygenation (rcso2) monitoring in preterm infants may identify periods of cerebral hypoxia or hyperoxia. we hypothesised that there was a relationship between rcso2 values and short term outcome in infants of ga < 32weeks.methodsrcso2 values were recorded for the first 48 h of life using an invos monitor with a neonatal sensor. the association between cranial ultrasound scan measured brain injury and rcso2 was assessed.results120 infants were included. sixty-nine percent (83) of infants had a normal outcome (no ivh, no pvl, and survival at 1 month); less than one-quarter, 22% (26), had low grade ivh 1 or 2 (moderate outcome); and 9% (11) of infants had a severe outcome (ivh ≥ 3, pvl or died before 1 month age). rcso2 values were lower for infants ga < 28weeks when compared with those ga 28–32, p < 0.001. there was no difference in absolute rcso2 values between the three outcome groups but a greater degree of cerebral hypoxia was associated with preterm infants who had low grade 1 or 2 ivh.conclusioninfants of ga < 28 weeks have lower cerebral oxygenation in the first 2 days of life. a greater degree of hypoxia was seen in infants with grade 1 or 2 haemorrhage. normative ranges need to be gestation specific.