For preterm infants and severely ill newborns undergoing intensive or intermediate care, it is crucial to monitor their vital signs, in particular their cardio-respiratory system: the heart rate and respiration are monitored by ECG (electrocardiogram), the arterial oxygen saturation (SpO2) by pulse oximetry of the upper (pre-ductal measurements), and of the lower (post-ductal measurements) body to assess for patent ductus arteriosus, especially in case of right-to-left shunt due to persistent pulmonary hypertension, but also to detect cyanotic congenital heart defects, and moreover the oxygenation (StO2) of the fragile brain by NIRS (near-infrared spectroscopy).
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