OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the mode of delivery may affect neonatal cerebral haemodynamics during the first hour of life. DESIGN: Prospective study. SAMPLE: Healthy infants with gestational age > or =37 weeks and birthweight appropriate for gestational age, born after uncomplicated pregnancy by vaginal delivery or elective caesarean section, two to five hours after the delivery. METHODS: Near infra-red spectroscopy was used to measure changes of oxygenated haemoglobin, deoxygenated haemoglobin, oxidized-reduced cytochrome aa3, and mean cerebral oxygen saturation (mixed cerebral oxygen saturation = oxygenated haemoglobin/total haemoglobin). Changes in cerebral blood volume were calculated. RESULTS: Near infra-red spectroscopy data did not show significant differences between infants born by vaginal delivery or by caesarean section. There was a significant decrease of oxygenated haemoglobin and change of cerebral blood volume values at 120 and 180 minutes in both the groups, while deoxygenated haemoglobin and oxidized-reduced cytochrome aa3 were unchanged. CONCLUSIONS: A decrease of cerebral blood volume occurs after birth and this occurs both in infants born by vaginal delivery and by caesarean section.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the mode of delivery may affect neonatal cerebral haemodynamics during the first hour of life. DESIGN: Prospective study. SAMPLE: Healthy infants with gestational age > or =37 weeks and birthweight appropriate for gestational age, born after uncomplicated pregnancy by vaginal delivery or elective caesarean section, two to five hours after the delivery. METHODS: Near infra-red spectroscopy was used to measure changes of oxygenated haemoglobin, deoxygenated haemoglobin, oxidized-reduced cytochrome aa3, and mean cerebral oxygen saturation (mixed cerebral oxygen saturation = oxygenated haemoglobin/total haemoglobin). Changes in cerebral blood volume were calculated. RESULTS: Near infra-red spectroscopy data did not show significant differences between infants born by vaginal delivery or by caesarean section. There was a significant decrease of oxygenated haemoglobin and change of cerebral blood volume values at 120 and 180 minutes in both the groups, while deoxygenated haemoglobin and oxidized-reduced cytochrome aa3 were unchanged. CONCLUSIONS:A decrease of cerebral blood volume occurs after birth and this occurs both in infants born by vaginal delivery and by caesarean section.