Bedside functional imaging of the premature infant brain during passive motor activation
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Susan R. Hintz
Abstract
Background: Changes in regional brain blood flow and hemoglobin oxygen saturation occur in the human cortex in response to neural activation. Traditional functional radiologic methods cannot provide continuous, portable measurements. Imaging methods, which use near-infrared light allow for non-invasive measurements by taking advantage of the fact that hemoglobin is a strong absorber at these wavelengths.
Aims: To test the feasibility of a new optical functional imaging system in premature infants, and to obtain preliminary brain imaging of passive motor activation in this population.
Methods: A new optical imaging system, the Diffuse Optical Tomography System (DOTS), was used to provide real-time, bedside assessments. Custom-made soft flexible fiberoptic probes were placed on two extremely ill, mechanically ventilated 24 week premature infants, and three healthier 32 week premature infants. Passive motor stimulation protocols were used during imaging.
Results: Specific movement of the arm resulted in reproducible focal, contralateral changes in cerebral absorption. The data suggest an overall increase in blood volume to the imaged area, as well as an increase in deoxyhemoglobin concentration. These findings in premature infants differ from those expected in adults.
Conclusions: In the intensive care setting, continuous non-invasive optical functional imaging could be critically important and, with further study, may provide a bedside monitoring tool for prospectively identifying patients at high risk for brain injury.
Copyright © 2001 by Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co. KG
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- The first 40 years – a subjective review
- The effect of postnatal steroids on growth and development
- Mild maternal undernutrition in the first half of ovine pregnancy influences placental morphology but not fetal Doppler flow velocity waveforms and fetal heart size
- Longitudinal study of fatty acids in plasma and erythrocyte phospholipids during pregnancy
- Women’s perceptions and experiences of childbirth in United Arab Emirates
- A role for the 72 kDa gelatinase (MMP-2) and its inhibitor (TIMP-2) in human parturition, premature rupture of membranes and intraamniotic infection
- The value of ultrasonographic examination of the uterine cervix in predicting post-term pregnancy
- Maternal complications associated with cesarean section
- Patent ductus arteriosus in very low birthweight infants: complications of pharmacological and surgical treatment
- Bedside functional imaging of the premature infant brain during passive motor activation
- Effects of selective inhibition of the Endothelin A and B receptors on hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction in newborn piglets
- Surfactant lavage and replacement in meconium aspiration syndrome with pulmonary hemorrhage
- Gelastic seizures in clusters in a case of West syndrome after perinatal hypothalamic hemorrhage
- Fetal pulse oximetry is a safe method during high-risk delivery
- WAPM-Newsletter No 2
