Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a promising tool for cerebral oxygenation monitoring due to its ability to detect changes in oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin in cortical brain areas. Its potential for cerebrovascular autoregulation (CA) monitoring lies in assessing oxygenation dynamics influenced by cerebral blood flow (CBF). NIRS offers continuous, non-invasive, real-time monitoring essential for clinical applications.

This project aims to validate NIRS as a reliable method for CA monitoring by addressing key challenges: (1) translating oxygenation signals into accurate CA measures, (2) mitigating external factors such as extracranial interference and motion artifacts using advanced signal processing, and (3) establishing standardized protocols to enhance data comparability across studies. Additionally, we will investigate the applicability of postocclusive reactive hyperaemia (PORH) with NIRS as a diagnostic tool for cardiovascular risk assessment and its role in optimizing haemodynamic management during anesthesia. Prospective, randomized trials will evaluate the clinical benefits of NIRS-guided individualized treatment strategies.