Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Sensors Placed Frontally and Parietally to Detect Large Vessel Occlusion Stroke.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: We aimed to determine whether two-channelled near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) was feasible for recognising anterior large vessel occlusion (LVO) with a device suitable for prehospital use and whether probe placement (frontal vs. parietal) made a difference. METHODS: We analysed NIRS readings of six computed tomography angiography (CTA)-confirmed LVO-stroke patients at Tampere University Hospital during the six-month study period. We placed four sensors on patients' heads: two frontally and two parietally. We provided a detailed description and analysis of these recordings and their correlation with imaging-confirmed changes in perfusion. RESULTS: In the frontally placed sensors, the rSO2 was 1-8 percentage points higher on the affected side before and 0-9 percentage points higher on the affected side after endovascular treatment (EVT). rSO2 values did not change significantly. One patient showed higher rSO2 on the healthy side (5 percentage points) before and after EVT. We could not recover frontal values from one patient. In parietally placed censors, all patients had 3-9 percentage points higher rSO2 on the healthy side before EVT. After EVT, 3 patients had 3-7 percentage points higher rSO2 on the healthy side. In two cases, after EVT, the difference in rSO2 changed to 1-2 percentage points higher on the affected side. We could not record parietal readings in one patient. CONCLUSIONS: Neither NIRS sensor placement detected differences in rSO2 in LVO; therefore, NIRS appears unsuitable as a diagnostic tool for LVO. Future research should focus on other technologies.

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