Aim To study the effectiveness of using transcranial cerebral oximetry for the optimisation of artificial pulmonary ventilation parameters in newborn babies in critical condition.

Methods 2 groups of newborn babies, who needed artificial pulmonary ventilation, were examined. The first group was comprised of newborn babies, for whom the concentration of oxygen in the inspired mixture (FiO2) was determined on the basis of indices of cerebral oximetry on Fore-sight monitor (USA). For the patients of the 2nd group FiO2 was determined on the basis of pulse oximetry and partial oxygen tension in blood. In the patients of both groups Oxystat test of BIOMEDICA GRUPPE (Germany) was used to determine peroxides in the blood serum and AOPP kit of Immunodiagnostic (USA) was used to determine the products of protein oxidation in the blood serum on the 1st, 5th and 10th days of observation.

Results The average FiO2 was 24.11 ± 1.19% in the patients of the 1st group and in the patients of the 2nd group it was 60.43 ± 0.99%. In the patients of the 1st group the duration of artificial pulmonary ventilation was 3.3 ± 0.32 days and the duration of hospitalisation was 7.63 ± 0.77 days. In the patients of the 2nd group the duration of artificial pulmonary ventilation was 6.59 ± 0.48 days and the duration of hospitalisation was 12.3 ± 1.1 days. The study of oxidative stress marker activity revealed that the content of protein oxidation products reduced by 3 times and the content of peroxides reduced by 2 times in the patients of the 1st group as compared to the patients of the 2nd group by the 10th day of observation. In all cases p < 0.05.

Conclusions The use of cerebral oximetry in the newborn babies, who have artificial pulmonary ventilation, conduces to an optimal choice of the necessary oxygen concentration in the inspired mixture and reduces the risk of oxidative stress development.