Cerebral Oxygenation to Guide Medical Interventions in Extremely Preterm Infants

Safeguarding the Brains of Our Smallest Children - a Pilot Study

Regional tissue oxygenation (rStO2) can be monitored by near-infrared spectroscopy. The investigators planned a SafeBoosC phase II trial to test if a reduction of the burden of hyper- and hypoxia can be accomplished during the first three days of life in infants born before 28 completed weeks of gestation. The investigators developed a treatment guideline and a randomised trial design to evaluate if cerebral rStO2 spent out of range in %hours can be reduced by 50%. The present trial is a non-randomised pilot study of the intervention in 10 infants.

Inclusion Criteria:

• gestational age at birth less than 28 completed weeks
• cerebral oximeter in place at 3 hours after birth

Exclusion Criteria:

• decision not to provide full life support