Cerebral saturation reflects anterior cerebral artery flow parameters by Doppler ultrasound in the extremely premature newborn.

BACKGROUND: Near-infrared spectroscopy measures cerebral saturation (Csat), although correlation with cerebral blood flow remains unclear in premature newborns at risk for intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH).

OBJECTIVES: Compare Doppler markers of anterior cerebral artery (ACA) flow with Csat obtained during head ultrasound (HUS).

METHOD: Newborns <29 weeks (2013-2017) underwent Csat monitoring with clinical acquisition of HUS. ACA Doppler markers were measured (with and without pressure) and Resistive Index (RI) was calculated. Mixed effects models evaluated the association between Csat and Doppler markers.

RESULTS: 98 neonates with 175 Csat-HUS observations were analyzed. Age at birth was 26.2 ± 1.5 weeks, with post-menstrual age of 26.9 ± 1.7 weeks at HUS. Csat was associated with RI without pressure (p = 0.045), RI with pressure (p = 0.019), and peak systolic velocity with pressure (p = 0.036). Severe IVH (n = 27 [15%]) was associated with lower Csat (60 ± 11% vs 68 ± 9%, p = 0.01).

CONCLUSION: Csat was associated with ACA Doppler measurements in extremely premature neonates.