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Correlation of abdominal rSO2 with superior mesenteric artery velocities in preterm infants

Journal of Perinatology volume 33, pages 609–612 (2013)Cite this article

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Abstract

Objective:

Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is used to monitor brain and kidney perfusion in at-risk premature and term neonates. Although NIRS holds potential for bedside monitoring of intestinal perfusion, there is insufficient evidence showing correlation with mesenteric blood flow. To determine if an association exists between abdominal regional oxygen saturation (A-rSO2) and mesenteric blood flow, we compared changes in A-rSO2 to changes in blood flow velocity in the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) before and after feedings in very-low birthweight infants.

Study Design:

A-rSO2 was continuously monitored midline below the umbilicus for 3 days in 18 stable 25 to 31 week bolus-fed infants (median BW 1203 g, median age 5 days). We compared change in SMA velocity from immediately before to 10 min and 60 to 120 min after feeding with change in A-rSO2 over the same time. Spearman’s rank correlation was used to ascertain if a significant association existed.

Result:

Change in A-rSO2 was significantly associated with change in systolic, diastolic, and mean SMA velocity from fasting to 60 to 120 min after feeding (P=0.016, 0.021, 0.010) and from 10 min after a feed to 60 to 120 min after feeding (P=0.009, 0.035, 0.032).

Conclusion:

In very preterm infants, A-rSO2 reflects blood flow in the SMA and can provide non-invasive continuous monitoring of intestinal perfusion. Further studies are indicated to determine the sensitivity of NIRS to detect early intestinal pathology in this population.

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Acknowledgements

Funding: Research funding from VICTR voucher (Vanderbilt Institute for Clinical and Translational Research Grant 1 UL1 RR024975 from NCRR/NIH), an unrestricted educational grant from Somanetics/Covidien (to BE), and the National Institutes of Health (K08DK083677 to SJM). Database support from Redcap (Vanderbilt Institute for Clinical and Translational Research Grant 1 UL1 RR024975 from NCRR/NIH). A sincere thank you to the Department of Pediatric Ultrasound, without whom this research would not have been possible: Leah Marlar, Emily Maute, Cassidy Orton, Jessica Turner, and Yuangfang Wang.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Monroe Carell Jr Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, Nashville, TN, USA

    M Gillam-Krakauer

  2. Department of Radiology, Monroe Carell Jr Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, Nashville, TN, USA

    C M Cochran

  3. Department of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA

    J C Slaughter

  4. Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Monroe Carell Jr Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, Nashville, TN, USA

    S Polavarapu

  5. Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA

    S J McElroy

  6. Departments of Radiology and Pediatrics, Radiology Vice-Chair in Pediatrics Medical Director, Diagnostic Imaging, Monroe Carell Jr Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, Nashville, TN, USA

    M Hernanz-Schulman

  7. Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Monroe Carell Jr Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, Nashville, TN, USA

    B Engelhardt

Authors
  1. M Gillam-Krakauer
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  2. C M Cochran
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  7. B Engelhardt
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Correspondence to B Engelhardt.

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Competing interests

Dr Engelhardt received an unrestricted educational grant from the Somanetics Corporation (now Covidien, Boulder, CO, USA) which was used for equipment costs. Covidien had no role in the design of the study, collection or analysis of data. Mrs Cochrane and Drs Gillam-Krakauer, Polavarapu, McElroy, Slaughter and Hernanz-Schulman declare no potential conflicts of interest.

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Gillam-Krakauer, M., Cochran, C., Slaughter, J. et al. Correlation of abdominal rSO2 with superior mesenteric artery velocities in preterm infants. J Perinatol 33, 609–612 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2013.3

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