Near‐infrared spectroscopy correlates with continuous superior vena cava oxygen saturation in pediatric cardiac surgery patients

Background: Cerebral regional oxygen saturation (rSO₂) measured with near‐infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) has a well‐proven clinical utility. A goal‐oriented treatment based on the rSO₂ resulted in a significant reduction in major morbidity and in a shortening of postoperative hospital stay in patients undergoing coronary revascularization. In this study, we have compared the values of superior vena cava saturation (ScvO₂) continuously measured with a Pediasat catheter and the corresponding NIRS rSO₂ values obtained during cardiac operations in pediatric patients. Methods: This was a prospective observational study enrolling fifteen pediatric patients (age: 6 days–7 years) undergoing cardiac operations. ScvO₂ data obtained with the Pediasat during the operation were compared with simultaneously recorded NIRS rSO₂ values. Results: One hundred and seventeen matched sets of data were obtained during the operation. ScvO₂ continuously measured with the Pediasat was significantly correlated with the corresponding NIRS rSO₂ values. However, there was a constant positive bias (ScvO₂ values were higher than NIRS rSO₂ values) of 5.6%, with a precision of 10.4%. Time‐related percentage changes of NIRS rSO₂ were significantly correlated with the corresponding ScvO₂ percentage changes. A decrease in ScvO₂ is predictive for a decrease in rSO₂ with a sensitivity of 73.7% and a specificity of 85.7%. Conclusions: The continuous measurement of ScvO₂ values obtained by the Pediasat may provide useful information about the metabolic conditions of the brain during cardiac operations in pediatric patients if considered as percentage changes. Absolute values of ScvO₂ tend to overestimate the correspondent rSO₂ values.