NEAR-INFRARED SPECTROSCOPY USED TO OBSERVE CHANGES IN FETAL CEREBRAL HEMODYNAMICS DURING LABOR

Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) has been used in the neonate to obse rve changes in the cerebral haemodynamics and concentration of oxygena ted haemoglobin. Specific changes have been demonstrated in response t o spontaneous bradycardias and alterations in the inspired oxygen conc entration. We report here changes in fetal cerebral haemodynamics usin g NIRS in response to rapid spontaneous delivery and the ''topping up' ' of a maternal epidural with bupivacaine. NIRS offers a new way of ob serving changes in cerebral haemodynamics in the fetus during labour.