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Cerebral Arterial Oxygen Saturation Measurements Using a Fiber-Optic Pulse Oximeter

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Abstract

Background

A pilot investigation was undertaken to assess the performance of a novel fiber-optic cerebral pulse oximetry system. A fiber-optic probe designed to pass through the lumen of a cranial bolt of the type used to make intracranial pressure measurements was used to obtain optical reflectance signals directly from brain tissue.

Methods

Short-duration measurements were made in six patients undergoing neurosurgery. These were followed by a longer duration measurement in a patient recovering from an intracerebral hematoma. Estimations of cerebral arterial oxygen saturation derived from a frequency domain-based algorithm are compared with simultaneous pulse oximetry (SpO2) and hemoximeter (SaO2) blood samples.

Results

The short-duration measurements showed that reliable photoplethysmographic signals could be obtained from the brain tissue. In the long-duration study, the mean (±SD) difference between cerebral oxygen saturation (ScaO2) and finger SpO2 (in saturation units) was −7.47(±3.4)%. The mean (±SD) difference between ScaO2 and blood SaO2 was −7.37(±2.8)%.

Conclusions

This pilot study demonstrated that arterial oxygen saturation may be estimated from brain tissue via a fiber-optic pulse oximeter used in conjunction with a cranial bolt. Further studies are needed to confirm the clinical utility of the technique.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences, City University, London, EC1V 0HB, UK

    J. P. Phillips, P. A. Kyriacou & D. P. Jones

  2. Anesthetic Laboratory, St Bartholomew’s Hospital, London, EC1A 7BE, UK

    R. M. Langford, S. H. Chang & K. Maney

Authors
  1. J. P. Phillips
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  2. R. M. Langford
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  3. S. H. Chang
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  4. K. Maney
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  5. P. A. Kyriacou
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  6. D. P. Jones
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to J. P. Phillips.

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Phillips, J.P., Langford, R.M., Chang, S.H. et al. Cerebral Arterial Oxygen Saturation Measurements Using a Fiber-Optic Pulse Oximeter. Neurocrit Care 13, 278–285 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12028-010-9349-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12028-010-9349-y

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