Cerebral regional oxygen saturation (crSO2): are different sensors comparable?

BACKGROUND

For measurement of cerebral regional oxygen saturation (crSO2) in neonates, one of the frequently used near-infrared spectroscopy devices is the INVOS 5100 with either the neonatal or pediatric sensor. Measurements between adult and pediatric sensors use different algorithms and differ by 10%. There are no published data comparing neonatal and pediatric sensors.

OBJECTIVE

Aim of this study was to compare the neonatal sensor with the pediatric sensor of the INVOS 5100 device in a mixed cohort of neonates to recognize possible differences and enable interpretation of data.

METHODS

In 40 neonates, crSO2 was measured in identical positions using both the neonatal and the pediatric sensor under identical conditions. Each sensor was reapplied five times to calculate mean values and standard deviations.

RESULTS

Cerebral regional oxygen saturation measurements using the neonatal sensor (mean, 76.1 ± 7.9) and crSO2 measurements using the pediatric sensor (mean, 76.4 ± 8.1) were not different. Reproducibility was not significantly different with similar means of standard deviations (neonatal, 3.7 ± 1.6; pediatric, 3.1 ± 1.3).

CONCLUSION

In a mixed cohort of neonates, crSO2 measurements were identical when using the INVOS 5100 neonatal sensor and the pediatric sensor. We conclude that studies using the INVOS 5100 neonatal or pediatric sensor are well comparable.