title: Cerebral oxygenation with different nasal continuous positive airway pressure levels in preterm infants.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study evaluates the effect of varying nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP) level on cerebral blood flow (CBF) and oxygenation in preterm infants.
  
  
  METHODS
  Oxy-haemoglobin (HbO2) and total haemoglobin (HbTot), as CBF estimates, and the ratio between HbO2 and HbTot (HbO2/HbTot), as cerebral oxygenation estimate, were assessed by near-infrared spectroscopy in 26 stable preterm newborns at a postmenstrual age between 26 and 33 weeks. Baseline HbO2, HbTot and HbO2/HbTot values were initially collected with NCPAP at 5 cm H2O and then compared with values obtained with NCPAP levels at both 3 and 8 cm H2O.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with 5 cm H2O, cerebral HbO2, HbTot and HbO2/HbTot remained unchanged both after increasing (to 8 cm H2O) and decreasing (to 3 cm H2O) the NCPAP level. This result was observed both in regional areas (24 sites) and in the overall monitored area (frontal and parietal cortex). Compared with 8 cm H2O, peripheral oxygen saturation significantly decreased at 3 cm H2O (p=0.021). Heart rate did not change.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  No differences in CBF and cerebral oxygenation were observed with NCPAP levels in the range 3-8 cm H2O despite a decrease in peripheral oxygenation with 3 cm H2O.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Maternal and Child Health-IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo" - Trieste, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bembich
authors.affiliation: Institute for Maternal and Child Health-IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo" - Trieste, Italy.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Travan
authors.affiliation: Institute for Maternal and Child Health-IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo" - Trieste, Italy.
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cont
authors.affiliation: Institute for Maternal and Child Health-IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo" - Trieste, Italy.
authors.forename: Jenny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bua
authors.affiliation: Institute for Maternal and Child Health-IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo" - Trieste, Italy.
authors.forename: Tamara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Strajn
authors.affiliation: Institute for Maternal and Child Health-IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo" - Trieste, Italy.
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Demarini
mesh_terms: D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000502:physiology*; D045422:Continuous Positive Airway Pressure / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000097:blood*; D015931:Intensive Care, Neonatal / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D009296:Nasal Cavity; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology*; D010108:Oxyhemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D019265:Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D010108:Oxyhemoglobins; D010100:Oxygen
keywords: Neonatology; Respiratory