Cerebral and peripheral tissue oxygenation in stable neonates: absent influence of cardiac function.

Bruckner, Marlies; Binder-Heschl, Corinna; Schwaberger, Bernhard; Mileder, Lukas Peter; Baik-Schneditz, Nariae; Koestenberger, Martin; Avian, Alexander; Urlesberger, Berndt; Pichler, Gerhard

AIM Cardiac function is a major factor for tissue perfusion and therefore may affect the tissue oxygen saturation. Aim was to analyse possible associations between cardiac function parameters and cerebral and peripheral tissue oxygenation in neonates on the first day after birth. METHODS Analysis of secondary outcome parameters of a prospective observational study which was performed at the Medical University of Graz, Austria between September 2011 and June 2013. We included preterm and term neonates who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit and in whom simultaneous near-infrared spectroscopy measurements and echocardiography was obtained on the first day after birth. Cardiac function parameters were correlated to cerebral and peripheral tissue oxygen saturation and cerebral and peripheral fractional tissue oxygen extraction at the time of echocardiography. RESULTS A total of 60 neonates of whom 47 were preterm and 13 were term (median gestational age: 34; IQR 33-35 weeks, mean birth weight: 2276±774 grams) were included. There were no statistically significant correlations between cardiac function parameters and regional tissue oxygenation parameters. CONCLUSION In the present study we found no correlation between regional tissue oxygenation and parameters of cardiac function in cardio-circulatory stable neonates on the first day after birth.