Measurement of cerebral oxyhaemoglobin saturation and jugular blood flow in term healthy newborn infants by near-infrared spectroscopy and jugular venous occlusion

Data of cerebral haemodynamics and oxygenation are important for optimal treatment and prognosis in neonatal intensive care. Mostly premature and asphyxiated infants have been examined, but near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) allows estimations in healthy term newborns. In this study, cerebral venous saturation (CVsO₂) and jugular blood flow (JBF) was estimated in 11 healthy term newborns. Mean CVsO₂ was 64.12 ± 4.6%, which conform with expectations. Mean JBF was only 6.1 ml/100 g/min, which is unacceptably low compared to earlier published data. We discuss physiological and methodological aspects and conclude that the combination of NIRS and venous occlusion appears to be a reliable method for estimation of CVsO₂ in normally healthy newborns, whereas the reason for the failure of the method for estimation of JBF is unclear.