Estimation of regional cerebral blood flow distribution in infants by near-infrared topography using indocyanine green

Near-infrared topography with indocyanine green was used to measure regiona l cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in the temporal lobes of infants. The mean rCB F in infants without neural abnormality was 14.5 +/- 3.1 ml/100 g/min, and the rCBFs in the frontotemporal, temporal, and occipito-temporal regions we re 15.1 +/- 3.9, 15.4 +/- 3.3, and 14.6 +/- 3.3 ml/100 g/min, respectively. Moreover, in one asphyxiated infant with infarction and one infant with su bdural and intracerebellar hemorrhage, it was demonstrated that the area of defective blood flow could be detected as well as it can by SPECT. This te chnique makes it possible to estimate rCBF distribution in infants at the b edside. Thus, in the future, evaluation of various neonatal illnesses shoul d be feasible. (C) 2001 Academic Press.