The effect of intraoperative cerebral oxygen desaturations on postoperative cerebral oxygen metabolism in neonates and infants a pilot study
Authors: Jock Anna , Neunhoeffer Felix , Rörden Alisa , Schuhmann Martin U. , Zipfel Julian , Hofbeck Michael , Dietzel Markus , Scherer Simon , Urla Cristian , Fuchs Jörg , Michel Jörg , Fideler Frank 
Published: November 2023

Introduction

Cerebral oxygen desaturation during pediatric surgery has been associated with adverse perioperative outcomes. The aim of this pilot study was to analyze the frequency and severity of intraoperative cerebral oxygen desaturations and their impact on postoperative cerebral oxygen metabolism in neonates and infants undergoing pediatric surgery.

Methods

In a prospective pilot study, intra‐ and postoperative regional cerebral oxygen saturation and blood flow were measured noninvasively using a device combining laser Doppler flowmetry and white‐light‐spectrometry. Thirty‐seven consecutive neonates and infants undergoing noncardiac surgery under general anesthesia for more than 30 min and necessity for invasive arterial blood pressure monitoring were included. Patients with pre‐known congenital structural heart disease or cerebral disease were excluded. Continuously brain monitor recording was started in sedated patients before induction of anesthesia (preoperative baseline) and was completed 1 h postoperatively in the PICU in sedated, intubated, and mechanically ventilated states at the PICU (postoperative state). Baseline and postoperative state for cerebral fractional tissue oxygen extraction and approximated cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen were calculated.

Results

Seventeen (46%) of the 37 studied neonates and infants suffered from intraoperative periods of regional cerebral oxygen desaturation below 20% of the baseline (event group). Severity of cerebral desaturations was median 4.0%min/h [range 0.1–58.7; interquartile range [IQR] 0.99–21.29]. In the event group, the duration of surgery was significantly longer (median 135 min [range 11–260; IQR 113.5–167.0] vs median 46.5 min [range 11–180; IQR 30.5–159.3]; difference of −62.94; 95% confidence interval [CI] −105.17 to −20.71; p = .021). In the event group, cerebral fractional tissue oxygen extraction (median 0.41 [range 0.20–0.55; IQR 0.26–0.44] vs. median 0.27 [range 0.11–0.41; IQR 0.20–0.31]; difference of −0.11; 95% CI −0.17 to −0.05; p = .001) and approximated cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen (median 6.15 arbitrary unit [range 2.69–12.07; IQR 5.12–7.21] vs. median 4.14 arbitrary unit [range 1.78–7.86; IQR 3.82–6.31]; difference of −1.76; 95% CI −3.03 to −0.49; p = .009) were significantly higher and the cerebral regional oxygen saturation (median 58.99% [range 44.87–79.1; IQR 54.26–72.61] vs median 70.94% [range 57.9–86.13; IQR 67.07–76.59]; difference of 10.01; 95% CI 4.13–15.90; p = .002) significantly lower after surgery compared to the nonevent group.

Discussion

The increase of approximated cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen could indicate an elevated oxidative energy metabolism in the “stressed” brain, due to repair processes. The increased cerebral fractional tissue oxygen extraction fits with the decreased NIRS cerebral oxygenation. Our data suggest that an increase in cerebral oxygen metabolism was the cause.

Conclusion

Cerebral oxygen desaturation during major surgery in neonates and infants is associated with early postoperative increased cerebral oxygen extraction and possibly increased cerebral oxygen metabolism.