Application of near-infrared spectroscopy – NIRS for assessing regional lung oxygen saturation in healthy newborns: indicators for further clinical study. A prospective clinical study

Objective. To determine reference values ​​of regional lung oxygen saturation (rSO2) in full-term and late preterm newborns using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). Materials and methods. Currently, there are no standard values ​​for regional lung oxygen saturation in healthy newborns. This complicates the use of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) for diagnosing and monitoring pulmonary function in neonatal practice. A single-center prospective observational study was conducted involving 50 healthy newborns - the main group (41 full-term infants, 9 late preterm infants, at over 35 weeks of gestation). The study was performed during the first day of life, between 2 and 24 hours after birth. rSO2 was assessed by NIRS at four chest sites: right lateral, left lateral, right posterior and left posterior. The study endpoint was to determine the distribution of rSO2 values ​at these sites. The parameters were compared between the two groups: full-term and late preterm infants. Results. In the main group of healthy newborns, the range of median rSO2 values ​​at the measured sites was from 94 to 96%. No statistically significant differences were found between the groups: Right lateral: full-term infants – 94 [92; 97] %, late preterm infants – 95 [92; 97] %, p=0.676; Left lateral: full-term infants – 94 [91; 97] %, late preterm infants – 95 [95; 96] %, p=0.328; Right posterior: full-term infants – 95 [91; 98] %, late preterm infants – 92 [91; 94] %, p=0.304; Left posterior: full-term infants – 97 [93; 98] %, late preterm infants – 96 [94; 98] %, p=0.761. Conclusions. The obtained reference values ​​of regional lung oxygen saturation in healthy newborns can serve as a basis for further diagnostic studies and clinical application of NIRS.