New non-invasive methods for assessing brain oxygenation and haemodynamics

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Hypoxic-ischaemic injury to the brain is the commonest cause of permanent neurodevelopmental disability in very preterm and other infants who survive after neonatal intensive care. Two new methods allow normal and abnormal oxidative metabolism to be investigated non-invasively in brain tissue. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy is used to measure the concentrations of important phosphorus compounds that are involved in energy metabolism—adenosine triphosphate, Phosphocreatine and inorganic orthophosphate—and also to measure intracellular pH. Normal developmental changes with gestation have been defined and abnormalities indicating impaired oxidative phosphorylation detected in a range of conditions of suspected or proven hypoxic-ischaemic injury. Near infrared spectroscopy provides continuous cot-side information about cerebral oxygenation and haemodynamics. Quantitative measurements can be made of oxyhaemoglobin, deoxyhaemoglobin, oxidized cytochrome aa3 and various haemodynamic indices. These two complementary techniques are likely to prove increasingly valuable for: monitoring brain-oxygenation and haemodynamics in babies; investigating the mechanisms of damage to the brain; assessing the results of treatment; and assigning long-term prognosis.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: