Peripheral oxygenation in preterm infants

When tissue oxygenation is impaired, compensatory mechanisms occur, includi ng a redistribution of blood flow in order to maintain oxygen delivery to v ital organs, resulting in a fall in peripheral blood flow. Monitoring perip heral oxygenation therefore has potential benefits as it may provide an ear ly warning of changes in the state of tissue oxygenation. Clinical assessme nts of the state Of peripheral perfusion are common, and several physiologi cal measurements have been described or used which are able to monitor peri pheral oxygenation. Some of the available methods and their clinical implic ations will be reviewed. Near infrared Spectroscopy is a particularly promi sing technique that has only recently been used in the preterm neonate to q uantify peripheral oxygenation. It may be of potential value in understandi ng pathophysiological changes that occur in certain situations and needs fu rther assessment to determine whether it may be useful to guiding clinical interventions.