NIRS (Near-Infrared Spectroscopy) is primarily used to measure tissue oxygenation.
Here's a breakdown:
- Primary Use: NIRS monitors are primarily employed to assess how much oxygen is present in tissues.
- Secondary Capabilities: Some NIRS devices can also estimate the concentration of hemoglobin (and myoglobin) within the sampled area.
- Potential Future Applications: Research is ongoing to determine if NIRS can be used to guide transfusion therapy, but this is not yet established.
In summary, NIRS's main function is to provide real-time information about tissue oxygenation levels, with some devices offering the additional capability to estimate hemoglobin concentration.
