Correlation Between Cerebral Oxygenation and Neurodevelopment in VLBW Preterm Infants.

The recent improvements in neonatal intensive care have led to a substantial increase in the survival rate of preterm infants; nevertheless, this population is still at high risk for long-term neurodevelopmental disabilities. Significant anatomical changes in brain structures and abnormal patterns of neuronal myelination and brain connectivity have been associated with preterm birth, with possible long-term effects on cognitive, motor and social skills. The validation of clinical tools able to predict neurodevelopmental outcomes in the preterm population might help at identifying infants at greatest risk of impairment, who would benefit most from early supportive interventions exploiting brain neuroplasticity. Near infrared reflected spectroscopy (NIRS) provides a bedside, non-invasive, continuous monitoring of cerebral oxygen saturation (CrSO2), which has been proposed as a predictive marker for later neurodevelopment in neonates undergone cardiac surgery; to date, however, evidence on the correlation between CrSO2 and later neurodevelopment in preterm infants is almost lacking. This study aims to evaluate whether CrSO2 monitoring, performed before NICU discharge in clinically stable very low birth weight (VLBW) preterm infants, can predict psychomotor outcomes during the first 24 months of corrected age (ca).