Objective: To explore the basic values of regional cerebral oxygen saturation (rSO2) among different age groups.
Methods: One hundred twenty patients who were scheduled for elective surgery aged 0 to 80 years (American Society of Anesthesiologists [ASA] physical status I or II) or neonates just after birth via cesarean section were enrolled and divided into the following six groups: infant (0 month and ≤12 months), toddler (>1 and ≤3 years old), preschool (>3 and ≤6 years old), school age (>6 and ≤18 years old), adult (>18 and ≤65 years old), and elderly (>65 and ≤80 years old) groups. There were 20 patients in each group.
Results: The basic values of rSO2 in infant, toddler, preschool, school age, adults, and elderly groups were 70.41% ± 4.66%, 72.43% ± 3.81%, 70.77% ± 3.27%, 70.62% ± 2.20%, 69.76% ± 6.02%, and 62.69% ± 3.14%, respectively. The basic value in the elderly group was lower compared with other five groups. There was no significant difference among infant, toddler, preschool age, school age, and adult groups.
Conclusions: The basic value of rSO2 in elderly patients is lower. Age is an important factor that affects the underlying value of rSO2.
Keywords: Spectroscopy; age groups; cerebral hypoxia–ischemia; near-infrared; oximetry; pulse oximetry.