Background

We report a pediatric case where bilateral regional oxygen saturation (rSO₂) measurements were useful in determining the selective cerebral perfusion (SCP) flow rate.

Case presentation

A 9-year-old Japanese boy, 128 cm tall and weighing 25.6 kg, was scheduled for aortic arch reconstruction due to a 90–100 mmHg pressure gradient. Pediatric-sized oximetry sensors were attached to the bilateral forehead area. The rSO₂ levels were 70–80% on the right and 80–90% on the left during cardiopulmonary bypass. Immediately following deep hypothermic circulatory arrest with the body temperature cooled to 25 °C, SCP was initiated from the right brachiocephalic artery at 10 mL/kg/min. As the rSO₂ decreased steeply to 43–45% on the right and to 32–38% on the left, the SCP flow was increased to 15 mL/kg/min. The right rSO₂ increased promptly to 50–60%, but the left rSO₂ remained at 30–40%. After the SCP flow was increased to 20 mL/kg/min, bilateral rSO₂ levels of 50–60% were obtained, and the SCP flow rate was maintained. The patient was transferred to the ICU postoperatively and extubated on the second postoperative day with no neurological abnormalities.

Conclusions

Bilateral rSO₂ measurements are essential even for a pediatric patient undergoing SCP, despite the limited forehead area.