Optical imaging could advance standard of care in the pediatric ICU

By: 
Gary Boas
February 2, 2015

 

An investigation of the effects of general anesthesia on infants’ brains could help to improve clinical outcomes.

Studies have shown that infants exposed to general anesthesia in early life have significantly increased risk of developmental delays, said Pei-Yi (Ivy) Lin, a researcher in the Optics Division in the Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging at the Massachusetts General Hospital. “However, brain monitoring during anesthesia is not a standard of care so far.”

With this in mind, Lin and colleagues are working to integrate an innovative optical imaging technology – near-infrared spectroscopy, or NIRS – into perioperative monitoring in the clinic. NIRS offers a means to measure hemodynamics noninvasively and without ionizing radiation. This will allow further investigation of the effects of general anesthesia on cerebral perfusion and oxygen metabolism in infants. Ultimately, it could also enable age-appropriate, goal-directed cerebral hemodynamic management, which could help to spare infant brains from the deleterious effects of anesthesia.

These efforts will be bolstered by funding from the Harvard Catalyst resource, which is dedicated to advancing knowledge in the clinical/translational research domain. The Early Clinical Data Support for Grant Submissions award provides clinical investigators with resources to generate the preliminary data they need to compete successfully for federal or non-federal sponsored funding.

It will directly support Lin as she launches the optical imaging project in the pediatric intensive care unit at the Massachusetts General Hospital.