Perfusion index in newborn infants: a noninvasive tool for neonatal monitoring

Abstract

Aim: To review the utility of perfusion index (PI) in the evaluation of neonatal clinical conditions. Twenty-five manuscripts were reviewed. PI provides information about haemodynamic stability, illness severity, early neonatal respiratory outcome, low superior vena cava flow and subclinical chorioamnionitis.

Conclusion: PI is a valuable tool to assess the newborn's health condition and could become a standardised measure in clinical evaluation. Different study designs are necessary to provide further validation to this method.

Keywords: Cardiovascular function; Haemodynamics; Illness severity; Newborns; Perfusion index.