Cerebral Oxygenation Monitoring: A Strategy to Detect Intraventricular Hemorrhage and Periventricular Leukomalacia

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.