title: Is near-infrared spectroscopy clinically useful in the preterm infant?
abstract: Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) has been used to study cerebral haemodynamics and oxygenation in the preterm infant for many years, but its use as a clinical tool has remained elusive. This has partly been due to the challenges of providing a continuous quantitative measurement that is valid and reliable, as well as demonstrating that interventions based on NIRS measurements improve clinical outcome. Recent studies investigating cerebral oxygenation targeted treatment, and defining optimal blood pressure based on an assessment of cerebrovascular reactivity, suggest ways in which this technology may yet be clinically useful.
authors.affiliation: Neonatal Unit, Rosie Hospital, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: Cristine Sortica
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: da Costa
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Gorm
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Greisen
authors.affiliation: Neonatal Unit, Rosie Hospital, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: Topun
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Austin
mesh_terms: D001794:Blood Pressure; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply*; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000502:physiology*; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology*; D019265:Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Near-infrared spectroscopy; autoregulation; blood pressure; cerebral oxygenation; cerebrovascular reactivity