Comparison of NIRS, PPG and SDF in neonates with NEC.
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Comparison of Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS), Photoplethysmography (PPG) and Sidestream Dark Dield (SDF) imaging in neonates with necrotising enterocolitis (NEC).
IRAS ID
162512
Contact name
Andy Petros
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
City University London
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Changes in the microcirculation have a a significant impact on the development of tissue ischaemia, a condition similar to muscle cramps, but in various different body organs. Ischaemia can occur during sepsis or major bleeding or in chronic diseases. Until recently only major changes in circulation such as blood pressure or cardiac output were easily measurable. A more recent development was the introduction of intravital microscopy which gives real-time quantitative information on the microcirculation. This technique needs the use of a fluorescent dye and was thus restricted mostly to animal experiments. The significant breakthrough with this technique was the introduction of orthogonal polarization spectral (OPS) imaging which provides an ideal microcirculation monitor providing images of actual blood vessel but without the need for any contrast enhancement with dyes. Orthogonal Polarization Spectral Imaging (OPS) was superseded by SDF (Sidestream Darkfield Imaging), a similar method which gives clearer images in a 1x0.7mm field.
Although there have been sublingual imaging studies of the microcirculation in children with SDF, this is very difficult in neonates. Previous studies in neonates have been done by imaging axillary skin.
Persisting changes in microcirculatory perfusion scores have been shown to predict outcome in adults and correlate with severity of illness and markers of endothelial dysfunction in septic children.REC name
London - Riverside Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/LO/1582
Date of REC Opinion
1 Dec 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion