[Near infrared spectroscopy monitoring in the neurointensive care].

Near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) can noninvasively measure cerebral saturation in oxygen, that permits to estimate brain oxygenation and metabolism. This technique could be incorporated into a multimodal monitoring for severely brain-injured patients. This review presents the principles of NIRS, its limits, the main results from clinical studies and its perspectives. More clinical studies are needed before recommending the routine use of NIRS in the ICU.