NIRS monitoring
Pronunciation: nears
Also written as: NIRS — Near-Infrared Spectroscopy
Near-infrared spectroscopy for continuous, non-invasive monitoring of regional tissue oxygen saturation in critically ill patients.
Full Definition
Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) monitoring is a non-invasive technique that uses near-infrared light to continuously measure regional tissue oxygen saturation (StO2) in real-time. The technology can assess cerebral, somatic, or renal tissue oxygenation by measuring the ratio of oxygenated to total hemoglobin in the microcirculation. NIRS is particularly valuable in cardiac surgery, trauma, and critical care settings for early detection of tissue hypoperfusion. Normal cerebral saturation is typically 55-75%, with values below 50% or drops >20% from baseline being clinically significant. The technology provides trend monitoring rather than absolute values.
Usage
Usage note: Specify anatomical site being monitored (cerebral, somatic, renal).
In Context
- "NIRS monitoring revealed declining cerebral saturation during cardiopulmonary bypass." — Cardiac anesthesia record
- "Somatic NIRS values improved following resuscitative measures." — Trauma surgery documentation