Abstract: The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of episodes of apneas and/or mild bradycardia (heart rate decreases of 10 to 20% or more) on cerebral oxyhemoglobin (HbO$-2$/) and reduced hemoglobin (Hb) concentration as measured by Near Infrared Spectrophotometry (NIRS). Measurements were carried out on 7 preterm infants who experienced apneic and bradycardiac events. It is shown how to characterize these events using time-frequency analysis. In addition to NIRS (performed with a NIRO-500 from Hamamatsu, Japan), the heart rate, ECG, peripheral arterial oxygen saturation (measured at the foot) and respiration (abdominal and thoracic pressure, and nasal airflow) were continuously recorded. The impact of apneic events and periodic breathing on these measurements reveals the clinical relevance of NIRS. In particular, we investigate whether these changes in heart rate and respiration also influence HbO$-2$/ and reduced Hb concentration in neonatal brain. These changes are characterized, as well as their relationships with the other simultaneously recorded signals such as peripheral arterial oxygen saturation.!10
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