Precision of time-resolved near-infrared spectroscopy-based measurements of cerebral oxygenation in preterm infants.

Abstract

.Significance: Time-resolved near-infrared spectroscopy (t-NIRS) is a new technology; at the moment, data on its precision in preterm infants are rare.Aim: Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze the precision of t-NIRS-based measurements of the cerebral oxygenation in preterm infants.Approach: In 70 neonates [age: days, sex (f/m): 33/37], cerebral oxygenation () was measured with an optode placed over the left frontotemporal lobe on the head, measurement duration was 1 min, and a reapplication was done for four further times (five applications).Results: Overall mean for values was . We found a within-patient variation for of 2.6%. Furthermore, 95% of all observed values were within a range of from the mean when looking on several reapplications and when looking within one application. Most of the variation in (60.4%) contributed to differences between patients. The remaining 39.6% of the variation was due to measurement errors and real changes of the measured signal within the neonates.Conclusions: Since within-patient variation of measures were below a clinical meaningful threshold of 5%, the measurement can be denoted as precise.