oxygen and cerebral perfusion indices in infants after 32 weeks
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A study to establish the relationship between intermittent hypoxia measured by pulse oximetry and cerebral perfusion measured by near infrared spectroscopy in infants born after 32 weeks gestational age
IRAS ID
355763
Contact name
Hazel Evans
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University Hospital Southampton
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 6 months, 1 days
Research summary
Roughly 44,000 babies each year are born 3-8 weeks before their due date (32-37 weeks gestation). These babies often do not appear unwell and do not need lots of supportive treatments in early life. However research following these babies up has shown impaired development compared to babies born at their expected time. The cause for this difference is unclear.
Babies spend around 16 hours of a 24 hour day asleep. All babies have immature breathing during sleep. This causes frequent short pauses in breathing resulting in brief falls in oxygen levels to very low levels. This is more common in babies born early especially in the first few weeks of life.
This study aims to find out whether brief falls in oxygen level are linked to falls in oxygen levels in the brain which might explain the differences in neurodevelopment.
Non-invasive pulse oximeters applied to the feet and the forehead will measure peripheral oxygen saturations and oxygen saturations of tissues supplying the brain. By linking these oxygen levels we will be able to see whether brief falls in peripheral oxygen levels are linked to intermittent falls in oxygen supply to the brain. This will help determine whether further research is needed looking at the effect of treating these brief falls in oxygen level on brain oxygen supply.
REC name
Wales REC 5
REC reference
25/WA/0154
Date of REC Opinion
23 May 2025
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion