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Background : Near‐infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a noninvasive optical monitor of regional cerebral oxygen saturation (rSO₂). The aim of this study was to validate the use of NIRS by cerebral oximetry in estimating invasively measured mixed venous oxygen saturation (SvO₂) in pediatric postoperative cardiac surgery patients.

Methods : Twenty patients were enrolled following cardiac surgery with intraoperative placement of a pulmonary artery (PA) or superior vena cava (SVC) catheter. Five patients underwent complete biventricular repair – complete atrioventricular canal (n = 3) and other (n = 2). Fifteen patients with functional single ventricle underwent palliative procedures – bidirectional Glenn (n = 11) and Fontan (n = 4). Cerebral rSO₂ was monitored via NIRS (INVOS 5100) during cardiac surgery and 6 h postoperatively. SvO₂ was measured from blood samples obtained via an indwelling PA or …