Background and Aims Neurological outcome in asphyxiated newborns submitted to hypothermia is being predicted by aEEG and MRI. The aim of this study was to assess the value of regional cerebral oxygen saturation (rSO₂) in early outcome prediction and its relation with aEEG and brain MRI.

Methods rSO₂ was measured by NIRS INVOS monitor. Newborns were simultaneously monitored with aEEG during hypothermia and rewarming period. Values of rSO₂ were analyzed in three groups of predicted outcome (normal, intermediate or abnormal) according to both aEEG pattern at 48h and MRI performed during the second week. Comparisons were done with ANOVA, SPSS19.

Results 21 newborns were monitored. During hypothermia there was a trend towards higher rSO₂ in newborns with predicted abnormal outcome. During rewarming there was a significant difference between the normal and abnormal outcome groups (p<0.02).

Conclusions NIRS monitoring may improve the early recognition of newborns with abnormal outcome. Our data suggests that a rSO₂ value of 85 during rewarming can be used as a cutoff for predicting abnormal outcome.