Background: It has been reported that preterm infants can develop feeding intolerance during phototherapy (PT) and that PT can affect mesenteric perfusion in these patients.
Aims: Our aim was to assess if PT can decrease regional splanchnic oxygenation (rSO2S) measured by near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS).
Study design: We prospectively studied infants with gestational age of 25-34 weeks with hyperbilirubinemia requiring PT. Splanchnic regional oxygenation (rSO2S), oxygen extraction fraction (FOES), and cerebrosplanchnic oxygenation ratio (CSOR) were recorded before, during, and after PT discontinuation.
Results: During PT rSO2S and CSOR significantly decreased and this effect lasted for some hours after its interruption. FOES contemporary increased, although this effect was not statistically significant.
Conclusions: PT treatment decreases splanchnic oxygenation in preterm infants likely due to peripheral vasodilation which triggers a redistribution of blood flow. These results can help explain the association between PT and the development of feeding intolerance in preterm infants.
Keywords: Feeding intolerance; Near infrared spectroscopy; Phototherapy; Splanchnic oxygenation.
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