Regional Cerebral Oxygenation in Patients with Severe COVID-19

Abstract

The aim of the study was to assess regional cerebral oxygenation (rScO₂) in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) associated with COVID-19.Material and methods. The cross-sectional study was conducted. Twenty-eight patients with severe COVID-19 who were admitted in the intensive care unit were enrolled. Regional cerebral oxygenation was assessed using near-infrared spectroscopy, laboratory markers of cerebral damage, clinical and laboratory characteristics.Results. Median age of patients was 65 years, of whom 50% were men. Three (11%) patients had severeARDS, 8 (29%) patients had moderate ARDS, and 17 (60%) patients had mild ARDS. Mechanical ventilation was performed in 20 (71%) patients, vasopressors were used in 14 (50%) patients. The median levels of cerebral saturation were normal and did not differ between the left (rScO₂l) and right (rScO₂r) hemispheres (68 (58–75) and 69 (59–76), respectively). The level of S-100 protein was increased (0.133 (0.061–0.318) µg/l) in contrast to the normal level of neuron-specific enolase (12.5 (8.0–16.5) µg/l). A correlation was found only between rScO₂ and hemoglobin level (rho=0.437, P=0.02) and between rScO₂ and lymphocyte count (rho=–0.449, P=0.016). An increase in S-100 negatively correlated with a decrease in Glasgow Coma Scale score (rho=–0.478, P=0.028).Conclusion. Near-infrared spectroscopy did not reveal a decrease in rScO₂ among patients with ARDS associated with COVID-19. The S-100 protein is a useful marker for the assessment of impaired consciousness. Further study of the causes of cerebral dysfunction in patients with severe COVID-19 and methods for its early identification is warranted.