Measurement of transcutaneous hemoglobin concentration by noninvasive white-light spectroscopy in infants.
OBJECTIVE
To compare transcutaneously spectroscopically measured hemoglobin values with venous hemoglobin values in infants.


METHODS
Prospective study in healthy preterm and term infants who were breathing spontaneously.


RESULTS
Recordings were obtained from 85 stable infants (median gestational age at measurement: 36 weeks [range: 34-43 weeks]; median body weight: 1890 g [range: 1095-4360 g]). The spectroscopic hemoglobin values were corrected for inhomogeneous distribution of hemoglobin in the tissue. The venous and spectroscopic hemoglobin values were then compared by using the Bland-Altman method, which gave an error of <5%.


CONCLUSIONS
This pilot study could illustrate a good relation between the 2 methods for measuring hemoglobin. Larger studies are required to validate the spectroscopic method in those with conditions that affect the skin microcirculation (eg, septicemia).
Rabe
Heike
H
Department of Neonatology, Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust, Brighton BN2 5BE, United Kingdom. heike.rabe@bsuh.nhs.uk
Stupp
Natascha
N
Ozgün
Murat
M
Harms
Erik
E
Jungmann
Holger
H
D002196:Capillaries; D005865:Gestational Age; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008833:Microcirculation; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply*; D013057:Spectrum Analysis / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D014680:Veins
D006454:Hemoglobins