title: Head Position Change Is Not Associated with Acute Changes in Bilateral Cerebral Oxygenation in Stable Preterm Infants during the First 3 Days of Life.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Several recent intraventricular hemorrhage prevention bundles include midline head positioning to prevent potential disturbances in cerebral hemodynamics. We aimed to study the impact of head position change on regional cerebral saturations (SctO2) in preterm infants (< 30 weeks gestational age) during the first 3 days of life.
  
  
  METHODS
  Bilateral SctO2 was measured by near-infrared spectroscopy. The infant's head was turned sequentially to each side from midline (baseline) in 30-minute intervals while keeping the body supine. Bilateral SctO2 before and after each position change were compared using paired t-test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In relatively stable preterm infants (gestational age 26.5 ± 1.7 weeks, birth weight 930 ± 220 g; n = 20), bilateral SctO2 remained within normal range (71.1-75.3%) when the head was turned from midline position to either side.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Stable preterm infants tolerated brief changes in head position from midline without significant alternation in bilateral SctO2; the impact on critically ill infants needs further evaluation.
authors.affiliation: Division of Newborn Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri.
authors.forename: Steve Ming-Che
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.affiliation: Division of Newborn Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri.
authors.forename: Rakesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.affiliation: Division of Newborn Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri.
authors.forename: Amit M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Mathur
mesh_terms: D054022:Cerebrum / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006257:Head; D006801:Humans; D062071:Infant, Extremely Premature / Q000502:physiology*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism*; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D056888:Patient Positioning / Q000379:methods*; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology*; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000503:physiopathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019265:Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen