Intraparturn fetal cerebral near infrared spectroscopy: apparent change in oxygenation demonstrated in a non viable fetus

The light still shines, but not that brightly? The current status of perinatal near infrared spectroscopy

“…It subsequently transpired that similar, contraction induced changes, occurred in a non-viable infant, thus questioning the validity of the calculations. 38 Currently, NIRS is insufficiently developed to allow evaluation of its use in labour by randomised trials. 39 However, IMNIRS may permit calculation of cerebral saturation between contractions, potentially detecting significant changes in fetal oxygen status.…”

Cerebral hemoglobin concentration and oxygen saturation measured by intensity modulated optical spectroscopy in the human fetus during labor

“…This may arise from changes in the geometry of the fetal head during contractions, and has been implicated in erroneous measurements of fetal oxygenation being obtained from the brain of a fetus that had died before labor [13]. This may arise from changes in the geometry of the fetal head during contractions, and has been implicated in erroneous measurements of fetal oxygenation being obtained from the brain of a fetus that had died before labor [13].…”

Recent advances in fetal near infrared spectroscopy

“…Consequently, any change in interoptode space could theoretically account for some or all of the typical contraction-related changes in concentration of oxy-and deoxyhemoglobin recorded with NIRS. Hamilton et al recently used NIRS to study a dead fetus during labor 17 and recorded concentration changes similar in character and magnitude to those previously described in live fetuses (mean cerebral oxygen saturation values were on the order of 70%). They argued that because oxygen saturation in a dead fetus must be close to zero, these apparent concentration changes were probably due to movement artifacts.…”