Experience and Problems in the first Six Months of Transcutaneous P02(tcPo2) Monitoring in Routine Neonatal Intensive Care

Abstract

A transcutaneous oxygen monitor (Roche 5301), operated by regular intensive care nursery nurses, was used in the routine management of 47 acutely ill infants over a six month period. The monitor was helpful as a trend monitor in showing immediate changes in oxygenation but in this clinical situation lacked accuracy. The overall correlation coefficient was 0.74 with a standard error of the estimate of 2.0 kPa (15 torr). This lack of accuracy was probably due to technical problems including the need for fairly frequent precise calibrations and proper, careful application of the skin electrode. Ill infants with poor skin perfusion may also have contributed to the lowering of the correlation coefficient.