The evaluation of cerebral oxygenation by oximetry in patients with ischaemic stroke

To evaluate the clinical significance of estimation of the regional cerebral oxygen saturation (rSO2) in the patients with ischaemic stroke by the cerebral oximetry during acute, sub-acute and chronic phases.

In this prospective study, 24 patients with ischaemic stroke in the middle cerebral artery territory were included. A detailed clinical examination and appropriate laboratory investigations were carried out. The rSO2 was determined by oximetery (INVOS 3100-SD) bilaterally on the first, third, seventh, and fifteenth days. The blood pressure, the peripheral capillary oxygen saturation and the arterial blood gas values were noted too. the changes were evaluated along with Glasgow coma scale (GCS) using unpaired student t-test and one way ANOVA test.

There were significant differences between the rSO2 values in acute, subacute and chronic phases on the side of the lesion (p value < 0.05). The values of oxygen saturation gradually increased throughout the chronic phase. These values showed a positive correlation with GCS, but the results were not significant statistically. The rSO2 values were also significantly higher on the non-lesional side than those on the lesion side in the acute phase (p= 0.0034), the discrepancy disappeared during the sub-acute and chronic phases.

Cerebral oximetry can be used as a measure to evaluate the cerebral oxygenation during the various phases of ischaemic stroke. It has a potential to serve as a useful marker for detection of cerebral oxygenation imbalances, to judge the effectiveness of the management and for the follow-up of patients with ischaemic stroke.