OBJECTIVE: To compare transcutaneously spectroscopically measured hemoglobin values with venous hemoglobin values in infants. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective study in healthy preterm and term infants who were breathing spontaneously. RESULTS: Recordings were obtained from 85 stable infants (median gestational age at measurement: 36 weeks [range: 34-43 weeks]; median body weight: 1890 g [range: 1095-4360 g]). The spectroscopic hemoglobin values were corrected for inhomogeneous distribution of hemoglobin in the tissue. The venous and spectroscopic hemoglobin values were then compared by using the Bland-Altman method, which gave an error of <5%. CONCLUSIONS: This pilot study could illustrate a good relation between the 2 methods for measuring hemoglobin. Larger studies are required to validate the spectroscopic method in those with conditions that affect the skin microcirculation (eg, septicemia).
OBJECTIVE: To compare transcutaneously spectroscopically measured hemoglobin values with venous hemoglobin values in infants. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective study in healthy preterm and term infants who were breathing spontaneously. RESULTS: Recordings were obtained from 85 stable infants (median gestational age at measurement: 36 weeks [range: 34-43 weeks]; median body weight: 1890 g [range: 1095-4360 g]). The spectroscopic hemoglobin values were corrected for inhomogeneous distribution of hemoglobin in the tissue. The venous and spectroscopic hemoglobin values were then compared by using the Bland-Altman method, which gave an error of <5%. CONCLUSIONS: This pilot study could illustrate a good relation between the 2 methods for measuring hemoglobin. Larger studies are required to validate the spectroscopic method in those with conditions that affect the skin microcirculation (eg, septicemia).