Extracerebral absorption of near infrared light influences the detection of increased cerebral oxygenation monitored by near infrared spectroscopy.

The detection of increased cerebral oxygenation secondary to cerebral hyperaemia, induced by hypercapnia has been studied in anaesthetised patients using a near infrared, reflectance mode, cerebral oxygenation monitor (Invos 3100 Somanetics, Troy, Michigan, USA). Two studies were performed, with and without a pneumatic scalp tourniquet, to distinguish between extracranial and intracranial changes in tissue oxygenation. In the control study a mean increase in end tidal CO2 of 23.1 mm Hg was accompanied by a mean increase in middle cerebral artery flow velocity of 116%. Regional cerebral oxygen saturation (rSO2) measured transcutaneously in the frontal distribution of the middle cerebral artery increased significantly from 70.5% to 74.6% (p = 0.001). During the second study with a scalp tourniquet inflated to maintain the extracranial tissues in a state of stable ischaemia a mean increase in end tidal CO2 of 22.3 mm Hg was accompanied by a mean increase in middle cerebral artery flow velocity of 121%. The change in rSO2 from 62.6% to 64.5% was not significant (p = 0.085). There was no correlation between the change in middle cerebral artery flow velocity and rSO2 in the control or scalp ischaemia group. This study shows that the Invos 3100 monitor is sensitive to tissue oxygenation but does not reliably detect changes in cerebral oxygenation as a result of profound cerebral hyperaemia. The contribution of extracerebral tissue to the attenuation of near infrared light and the lack of spatial resolution remain major problems to be overcome before this or other near infrared spectroscopy instruments can be introduced into clinical practice.