ABSTRACT
The uteroplacental circulation in the placenta can have a major impact on the fetus.
Near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is the noninvasive method of measuring changes in
blood volumes and oxygen concentrations in living tissue. The purpose of this study
is to monitor changes in placental tissue oxygen index (TOI) levels, in patients with
intrauterine fetal growth restriction during pregnancy, using NIRS. We measured placental
TOI values of 15 normal pregnant woman and 15 patients with intrauterine growth restriction
admitted to our hospital. The placenta was assessed by ultrasound examination and
NIRS was performed on all patients. The TOI values of the IUGR group when hospitalized
was 78.6 ± 1.6 (SD). This value was significantly higher than that of the controls
(78.6 ± 1.6 [SD] versus 70.2 ± 0.4 [SD]). And the TOI values of the IUGR group, when
measured before delivery, were 77.8 ± 1.6 (SD). The TOI values of the IUGR group before
delivery were significantly higher than those of the control group (77.8 ± 1.6 [SD]
versus 70.3 ± 0.4 [SD]). We propose that NIRS is a candidate, noninvasive method for
assessing placental oxygen dynamics on a real-time basis. In the near future it may
contribute to perinatal medical practice.
KEYWORDS
Intrauterine fetal growth retardation - uteroplacental circulation - near infrared
spectroscopy
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Dr. Takakazu Kawamura
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine
Handayama 1-20-1, Hamamatsu, 431-3192, Japan
