Repeated sensor use for regional cerebral oxygenation measurements by near-infrared spectroscopy: a technical report

Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) has been used in clinical practice to assess regional cerebral tissue oxygen saturation (StcO₂). There is no evidence whether repeated use of the same sensor affects StcO₂ measurements. We aimed to assess whether there was a significant systematic decrease or increase in StcO₂ when NIRS sensors were reused.

Participants were divided into three groups (A, B and C). StcO₂ was recorded over 5 minutes daily for 5 days in Groups A and B ("new-sensor" [NS] period; sensor age, 1-5 days) and in Groups A and C, with the sensor previously used for A ("extended-use" [EU] period; sensor age, 6-10 days).

Single-centre, university hospital, intensive care unit.

Healthy volunteers.

StcO₂ change within and between study periods.

In 13 participants (9 male; median age, 30 years), the range of median StcO₂ values per day was 65-72%. In the NS period, there were no changes in right-sided StcO₂, and left-sided StcO₂ showed no systematic or progressive patterns of increase or decrease when comparing Day 1 with subsequent days. There were no differences when comparing Day 1 with subsequent days (up to Day 10) in the EU period or between the NS and EU periods for left or right StcO₂.

Repeated use of NIRS sensors measured StcO₂ in different individuals for up to 10 days. There were no significant, systematic, persistent or progressive changes in StcO₂ with extended use over time. Our findings suggest that StcO₂ does not change with sensor reuse for up to 10 days.