EFFECT OF SLEEP STATE ON CEREBRAL HAEMOGLOBIN (Hb) VOLUME IN TERM NEWBORN INFANTS ASSESSED BY NEAR INFRARED SPECTROSCOPY (NIRS)

NIRS can be used for monitoring cerebral haemodynamics and oxygenation in newborn infants. The AIM of this study was to assess the difference in cerebral Hb volume (Hb-tot = Hb-ox + Hb-red) between quiet and active sleep and to observe Hb during sleep state transitions. METHOD: NIRS (Wyatt. Lancet 1986;2:1063) was performed on 20 healthy term infants (birthweight: 2570 to 4150g, age: 2 to 8 days); TcpCO2, tcpO2, SO2 and heart rate were recorded and sleep states assessed according to Prechtl (Brain Res 76, p 185, 1974). RESULTS (values are median (range) umol/l): After transition from quiet to active sleep Hb-ox decreased: -3.0 (+5 -10) p>0.001 and Hb-tot: -4 (+5 -10) p