CORRELATION OF NEAR-INFRARED SPECTROSCOPY CEREBRAL BLOOD-FLOW ESTIMATIONS AND MICROSPHERE QUANTITATIONS IN NEWBORN PIGLETS

We compared cerebral blood flow (CBF) estimated using transmission mod e near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and a modification of the Fick pri nciple with CBF quantitations by radioactive microspheres (MSs) in new born piglets. Thirteen piglets were studied during steady state, ische mia, and during two reflow periods. NIRS and MS flows were not signifi cantly different during any measurement period. NIRS flows were compar ed to total brain blood flows and to regional brain blood flows quanti tated with MSs and correlated best with temporal cortical flows. Linea r regression analysis of the NIRS flows plotted against MS-quantitated temporal cortical flows showed r = 0.71. Thus, CBFs obtained with NIR S were not significantly different from, showed the same directional c hanges, and correlated acceptably with flows quantitated by MSs.