Transcutaneous Monitoring of PO2in Different Skin Areas in the Neonate and in the Scalp of the Fetus During Labor-Methodological and Physiological Observations

Abstract

The reliability and physiological significance of continuous non-invasive PO2 recording by means of skin electrodes was studied by comparing simultaneous tracings from different skin areas in a series of 40 newborns with normal labor and birth. A new measuring equipment - the Radiometer prototype unit TPM 1 - was used. In addition, the applicability of the method to the fetus was tested in a primary series of 11 labor cases. Certain technical and physiological factors that can influence the tracings were identified.