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Review
. 2012 Aug;26(4):279-87.
doi: 10.1007/s10877-012-9348-y. Epub 2012 Mar 31.

Monitoring tissue oxygenation by near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS): background and current applications

T W L Scheeren  1 , P Schober, L A Schwarte
Affiliations
Review

Monitoring tissue oxygenation by near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS): background and current applications

T W L Scheeren et al. J Clin Monit Comput. 2012 Aug.

Abstract

Conventional cardiovascular monitoring may not detect tissue hypoxia, and conventional cardiovascular support aiming at global hemodynamics may not restore tissue oxygenation. NIRS offers non-invasive online monitoring of tissue oxygenation in a wide range of clinical scenarios. NIRS monitoring is commonly used to measure cerebral oxygenation (rSO(2)), e.g. during cardiac surgery. In this review, we will show that tissue hypoxia occurs frequently in the perioperative setting, particularly in cardiac surgery. Therefore, measuring and obtaining adequate tissue oxygenation may prevent (postoperative) complications and may thus be cost-effective. NIRS monitoring may also be used to detect tissue hypoxia in (prehospital) emergency settings, where it has prognostic significance and enables monitoring of therapeutic interventions, particularly in patients with trauma. However, optimal therapeutic agents and strategies for augmenting tissue oxygenation have yet to be determined.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
NIRS. Optical properties of oxy- and desoxyhemoglobin. From Nonin with kind permission
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Probe positioning. Example of forearm probe positioning. Here additionally fixated with a transparent adhesive
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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