Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) has been widely used in perioperative period, measured by regional cerebral oxygen saturation (CrSO2) during initial cardiothoracic aortic surgery. With the deepening of the understanding of NIRS monitoring, it should be extended to the determination of regional oxygen saturation (rSO2) in peripheral tissue. This article reviews the recent progress of NIRS applied in cardiothoracic surgery, neurosurgery, special postural surgery, cerebral hemodynamic monitoring, renal oxygen saturation monitoring, peripheral tissue and transferred flap tissue oxygen saturation monitoring, anesthetic effect monitoring and other fields. This paper will focus on the correlation between CrSO2 and postoperative neurological complications, the correlation between renal oxygen saturation and postoperative renal failure, the relationship between peripheral tissue and transferred flap tissue microcirculation function and patient prognosis, and the relationship between tissue oxygen saturation and anesthesia effect.