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Observational Study
. 2015 Jun;32(7):645-52.
doi: 10.1055/s-0034-1390348. Epub 2014 Oct 5.

Head Position Change Is Not Associated with Acute Changes in Bilateral Cerebral Oxygenation in Stable Preterm Infants during the First 3 Days of Life

Steve Ming-Che Liao  1 , Rakesh Rao  1 , Amit M Mathur  1
Affiliations
Observational Study

Head Position Change Is Not Associated with Acute Changes in Bilateral Cerebral Oxygenation in Stable Preterm Infants during the First 3 Days of Life

Steve Ming-Che Liao et al. Am J Perinatol. 2015 Jun.

Abstract

Objective: Several recent intraventricular hemorrhage prevention bundles include midline head positioning to prevent potential disturbances in cerebral hemodynamics. We aimed to study the impact of head position change on regional cerebral saturations (SctO2) in preterm infants (< 30 weeks gestational age) during the first 3 days of life.

Study design: Bilateral SctO2 was measured by near-infrared spectroscopy. The infant's head was turned sequentially to each side from midline (baseline) in 30-minute intervals while keeping the body supine. Bilateral SctO2 before and after each position change were compared using paired t-test.

Results: In relatively stable preterm infants (gestational age 26.5 ± 1.7 weeks, birth weight 930 ± 220 g; n = 20), bilateral SctO2 remained within normal range (71.1-75.3%) when the head was turned from midline position to either side.

Conclusion: Stable preterm infants tolerated brief changes in head position from midline without significant alternation in bilateral SctO2; the impact on critically ill infants needs further evaluation.

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