In prematures with 29 weeks of gestation tube feeding resulted in a considerable decrease of cerebral blood flow velocity after 5 to 11 minutes after feeding. Aim: The present study was designed to measure oxidized (O2Hb), reduced (HHb), total haemoglobin (tHb), calculated cerebral blood volume (CBV), cytochrome-aa3 (Cyt-aa3), and regional cerebral arteriovenous saturation (rSO2) before and after bolus tube feeding in older premature neonates. Patients and methods: Bedside measurements were done continuously by means of a Near infrared laserspectroscop(Critikon™ 2020) in 14 prematures (gest. age 33+4 wks, birth weight 1730±410g; postnatal age 38±15 days, actual weight 2480±480 g) fiveteen minutes before, and 50 minutes after bolus tube(16±4 m/kg of milk over a period of 5 minutes) feeding. Blood pressure and peripherial oxygen saturation were monitored simultaneously .Results: CBV, O2Hb, HHb, cyt-aa3, as well as rSO2 did not change after feeding. Blood pressure increased significantly 5 minutes after end of feeding. Peripherial oxygen saturation and respiratory patterns did not change.

Conclusion: Our results suggest that in stable, prematures bolus tube feeding did not alter cerebral haemodynamics and cerebral oxygen supply.