Near-infrared spectroscopy measurements of cerebral oxygenation in newborns during immediate postnatal adaptation.
OBJECTIVE
In view of growing concerns regarding the optimal supplementation of oxygen at birth, we measured cerebral oxygenation during the first minutes of life.


METHODS
Using near-infrared spectroscopy, changes in cerebral oxygenated hemoglobin (O(2)Hb), dexoxygenated hemoglobin (HHb), and tissue oxygenation index (TOI) were measured during the first 15 minutes of life in 20 healthy newborn infants delivered at term by elective cesarean section.


RESULTS
O(2)Hb and TOI increased rapidly within the first minutes of life (median slope for O(2)Hb, 3.4 micromol/L/min; range, 1.4 to 20.6 micromol/L/min; median slope for TOI, 4.2 %/min; range, -0.4 to 27.3%/min), and cerebral HHb decreased (median slope, -4.8 micromol/L/min; range, -0.2 to -20.6 micromol/L/min). O(2)Hb, TOI, and HHb all reached a plateau within 8 minutes.


CONCLUSIONS
A significant increase in cerebral O(2)Hb and TOI and a significant decrease in HHb occur during immediate adaptation in healthy term newborns, reaching a steady plateau at around 8 minutes after birth.
Fauchère
Jean-Claude
JC
Department Obstetrics & Gynecology, Clinic of Neonatology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. jean-claude.fauchere@usz.ch
Schulz
Gabriele
G
Haensse
Daniel
D
Keller
Esther
E
Ersch
Jörg
J
Bucher
Hans Ulrich
HU
Wolf
Martin
M
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism*; D019265:Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared
D006454:Hemoglobins; C100003:deoxyhemoglobin; D010100:Oxygen