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Session: Poster session 2 (Odd numbers)
Session starts: Friday 27 January, 10:00
Presentation starts: 10:00

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Ronald van Gils (Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam)
Linda Wauben ()
Timothy Singowikromo ()
Thomas Feijts ()
Crystal Wang ()
Bram van Deurzen ()
Hil Steketee ()
Onno Helder ()

Abstract:
Background Brain growth of preterm infants, cared for in incubators at a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), is estimated by measuring head circumference (HC). Estimating brain growth by HC, however, has limitations. First limitation is accuracy: HC poorly correlates with brain volume. To estimate brain growth more accurately, cranial volume (CrV) measurements are preferred over HC. Second limitation concerns stress-related negative effects: HC measurements with a tape measure wrapped around the head causes stress to the infant. Aim To overcome these limitations, a novel 3D-scanner, the MONITOR3D, was developed for stress-free measurements of HC and CrV of preterm infants lying in incubators. To be stress-free, the MONITOR3D scan sessions are merged with routine care procedures. This study aims to validate the usability and accuracy of measurements of the MONITOR3D. Methods Validation took place at a NICU incubator bedspace with a prepared preterm doll lying in an incubator. Pairs of NICU nurses performed scan sessions, changing the infant’s position as they would do during routine care procedures. Also, they measured HC with the currently used tape measure, acting as golden standard. Ground truth values for HC and CrV were defined by reference scans with a commercially available clinical 3D-scanner. To estimate disturbances to the infant due to the scan sessions, sensors registered noise, light, and head-movement. In addition, nurses filled out a questionary to qualitatively assess expected disturbances. Results 56 scan sessions resulted in 25 usable scans, from which HC and CrV could be derived. The median HC of both tape measure and ground truth did not show a significant difference compared to the median HC of the MONITOR3D. The CrV measurements, however, did significantly differ from the ground truth. The scan sessions added no significant disturbances to the routine care procedures. Nurses expected the current tape measure to be more stressful than the MONITOR3D. Conclusions The MONITOR3D scan sessions can take place during routine care without causing extra disturbances. HC measurements with the MONITOR3D seem clinically accurate enough. However, CrV measurements are not accurate enough for clinical use. Before in vivo validation, further research is needed to improve CrV measurement accuracy.