Purpose To assess how different infant positions and peak sound levels effected cerebral oxygen saturation over time. Subjects Twenty-four premature infants who were born less than 32 weeks gestational age without congenital cardiac, neurological, and gastrointestinal anomalies. Design Repeated measures design with the first observation between 2 and 48 hours of life; once again between 49 and 96 hours of life; on Day of Life 7; and every 7 days thereafter until discharge home, transfer to another hospital, or 40 weeks post-menstrual age, whichever came first. Methods Continuous sound levels (decibels) were obtained and two infant positions were performed while measuring cerebral oxygen saturation during 40-minute observation periods. Main outcome measures Effect of peak sound and differences in infant position on cerebral oxygen saturation. Principal results Peak sound levels 5 decibels above the average ambient sound level did not significantly change cerebral oxygen saturation values. Differences in cerebral oxygenation were significantly less when infants were changed from a supine, head midline position to a right lateral, 15° head elevation compared to a left lateral, 0° elevation position. Conclusions Aspects of the current NICU environment do not appear to affect cerebral oxygen saturation.

Genetic sucrase-isomaltase deficiency often occurs together with lactase or pan-disaccharide deficiency. Disaccharidase deficiency should be considered a potential cause of abdominal pain and/or diarrhea in children and adolescents.

Premature infants are at risk for intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) and periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) theorized to be a result from fluctuations in cerebral blood flow. Monitoring cerebral oxygenation offers a method to observe changes in cerebral blood flow that may be beneficial for detecting and preventing IVH and PVL. This article explains the potential for cerebral oxygenation monitoring in detecting IVH and PVL using cerebral oximetry, reviews current knowledge known about cerebral oxygenation, and describes current challenges for cerebral oxygenation to be the next neuroprotective vital sign.

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