Defining the reference range of regional cerebral tissue oxygen saturation using a new portable near-infrared spectroscopy device for term infants.

Background: The arterial oxygen saturation of infants requiring resuscitation can be monitored using a pulse oximeter. However, the device cannot provide information about cerebral oxygenation. Thus, we used a new portable near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) device that can monitor regional cerebral tissue oxygen saturation (crSO) with a probe attached to the examiner's finger.

Aim: To identify the reference ranges for crSO within the first 10 min after birth in term infants who did not receive any medical intervention in the delivery room.

Results: crSO in the left frontoparietal area of the forebrain was measured within the first 10 min of life in 127 healthy term infants. The median gestational age and birth weight were 37.6 weeks and 2742 g, respectively, and 85% of the infants were delivered via a scheduled cesarean section. The 3rd-97th percentile values for crSO ranged from 33.1% to 56.7% at 1 min, from 33.2% to 59.5% at 2 min, and from 38.7% to 66.6% at 5 min after birth. A median of 3.5 min was required to achieve a crSO > 50%.

Conclusions: This study showed the reference ranges for crSO measured with the new portable NIRS device within the first 10 min after birth in term infants.