Tissue oxygenation monitoring during major pediatric surgery using transcutaneous liver near infrared spectroscopy.

Background: The aim of the study was to compare liver tissue oxygenation determined by near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) with central venous oxygen saturation (SvO(2)) and intestinal perfusion as measured by gastric intramucosal pH (pHi) in pediatric surgical patients.

Methods: Twenty children undergoing craniofacial surgery with expected major intraoperative blood loss were studied. NIRS tissue oxygenation index (TOI(Liver)) and pHi values were recorded.