[Near-infrared spectroscopy--a new method for non-invasive monitoring of cerebral hemodynamics].

Non-invasive techniques allow monitoring in prematures and newborns with the maxime of "minimal handling". Cerebral changes in oxi- and deoxihemoglobin and in total hemoglobin, which reflects the intracranial blood volume, can be monitored continuously by near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) for the first time. As derived parameter the cerebral blood flow can be determined. With reservations the method allows to get a view of the cellular level by recorded changes of the cytochromeoxidase. This article gives a survey of the physics, the technique and shows the clinical application of the method.