Near infrared spectroscopy and abdominal compartmental syndrome in neonates

Abstract

Background and Aims: Abdominal compartmental syndrome considered the most common cause of postoperative mortality in neonates scheduled for surgical repair of congenital abdominal wall defect. This study aimed primarily to observe the renal and cerebral rSO2 variation during and after surgical reduction, while secondarily to analyze correlations with other perfusion markers of intra-abdominal hypertension. Patients and methods: A randomized, prospective, cohort study was piloted in a tertiary care pediatric surgery center from February 2017 to march 2021 where 20 neonates scheduled surgical repair of congenital abdominal wall defects. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) measurements of regional tissue oxygenation (rSO2) fluctuations performed using the two-channel mode, channel 1 for cerebral monitoring (C rSO2) and channel 2 for renal monitoring (R rSO2), and calculating differences intraoperative as well as postoperative. Results: Intra-operative C and R ΔrSO2 had a significant positive correlation with an intraoperative post-ductal SPO2 and MABP changes, while a significant negative correlation was noted with serum lactate level and capillary refill time. Postoperative C ΔrSO2 showed a negative correlation with postoperative serum lactate level, whereas postoperative R ΔrSO2 had a positive correlation with postoperative post-ductal SPO2 changes, and negative correlations with postoperative capillary refill time changes. Pathological intraoperative ΔrSO2 had a statistically significant relation with intraoperative post-ductal SPO2, MABP, capillary refill time, serum lactate level, postoperative serum creatinine level, and postoperative vasoactive-ventilation-renal (VVR) score. Conclusion: : NIRS is an efficient non-invasive monitor of cerebral and tissue perfusion, evaluating tissue microcirculation, and considered an early warning for detecting abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) in neonates.