Research article

Cerebral oxygenation responses during kangaroo care in low birth weight infants

Esmot Ara Begum¹ , Motoki Bonno¹ , Noriko Ohtani² , Shigeko Yamashita² , Shigeki Tanaka¹ , Hatsumi Yamamoto¹ , Masatoshi Kawai³ and Yoshihiro Komada⁴

¹Clinical Research Institute and Department of Pediatrics, National Hospital Organization, Miechuo Medical Center, 2158-5 Hisaimyojin Cho, Tsu, Mie, 514-1101, Japan

²Department of Nursing, National Hospital Organization, Miechuo Medical Center, 2158-5 Hisaimyojin Cho, Tsu, Mie, 514-1101, Japan

³Masatoshi Kawai, PhD, Department of Developmental Clinical Psychological Institute for Education, Mukogawa Women's University, 6-46 Ikebiraki Cho, Nishinomiya, Hyogo, 633-8558, Japan

⁴Department of Pediatrics and Developmental Science, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine, 174-2 Edobashi, Tsu, Mie, 514-8507, Japan

author email corresponding author email

BMC Pediatrics 2008, 8:51doi:10.1186/1471-2431-8-51

Published:	7 November 2008

Abstract

Background

Kangaroo care (KC) has been widely using to improve the care of low birth weight infants. However, very little is known about cerebral hemodynamics responses in low birth weight infants during KC intervention. The objective of this study was to elucidate the response of cerebral hemodynamics during KC in low birth weight infants.

Methods

Near infrared spectroscopy measured regional cerebral oxygenation (rSO₂), heart rate (HR), respiration rate (RR) measured by electrocardiogram, and percentages of oxygen saturation (SpO₂) measured by pulse oxymetry was monitored in 16 preterm infants (< 1600 g) in three sessions: before, during, and after KC. Using power spectral analysis, total power (TP), low-frequency (LF, 0.02–0.20 Hz) and high-frequency (HF, 0.20–0.50 Hz) bands, the ratio of LF/HF were calculated and normalized as %LF or %HF = LF or HF/TP × 100 (%).

Results

Significant differences were not observed in the mean rSO₂, HR, and SpO₂ throughout sessions; however, the TP of these parameters was significantly decreased during KC and increased after KC (p < 0.001). The %LF of LrSO₂ and RrSO₂ was decreased during KC (p < 0.05) with decreased %HF in RrSO₂ (p < 0.05). The %LF of HR was significantly increased during KC while %HF was decreased (p < 0.05). Mean and TP of RR was increased during KC (p < 0.01 respectively) with the increase of quiet sleep state (p < 0.05) and decreased after KC (p < 0.01). The %LF of RR was increased after KC (p < 0.05) with decreased %HF (p < 0.05); however, significant changes were not observed during KC.

Conclusion

KC intervention appears to have influence on cerebral hemodynamics as well as cardiorespiratory parameters. The results of rSO₂ and HR might be associated with quiet sleep states. The results of this study may indicate the contribution of KC intervention to the activation of central nervous system and brain function. Further study is needed to determine the underlying physiology responsible for these differences.