Continuous measurement of cerebral blood volume and oxygenation during rewarming of neonates.

AIM: To investigate the effect of rewarming in preterm infants presenting with hypothermia at admission.

METHODS

The tissue oxygenation index (TOI), changes in cerebral blood volume (DeltaCBV) and changes in intravascular oxygenation (DeltaHbD) were measured in eight preterm infants, presenting with a temperature less than 35 degrees C at admission.

RESULTS

A significant increase in HbD and TOI was seen in four patients (group A), while a significant increase in CBV and a decrease in HbD was seen in four other patients (group B). Retrospective analysis showed that group A had important signs of peripartal asphyxia.

CONCLUSION

While infants with peripartal asphyxia showed an important increase in oxygenation during rewarming, no significant changes were seen in the non-asphyxiated infants.