Role of Cerebral Oximetry in Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation

Cerebral oximetry, which is based on near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) technology, is an optical technique that allows for noninvasive and continuous monitoring of brain oxygenation by determining cerebral tissue blood oxygen saturation. Many research and observational studies were performed with neonates using various types of NIRS/cerebral oximetry monitors. However, no food and drug administration (FDA) approved-cerebral oximeter is available for neonates. Successful validation of cerebral oximetry for the FDA has been done in human adult volunteer studies under protocols in which jugular bulb and arterial blood samples were obtained under different levels of fractional inspired oxygen levels.