Cutaneous pO2-measurements in newborns with respiratory distress syndrome

Correlation between cutaneously measured pO2-values and arterial pO2 in 9 newborns with respiratory distress syndromes was investigated with the Basel skin-electrode [3]. At an electrode temperature of 42 degrees C, correlation was low (r = 0.63), at 43 degrees C the coefficient increased to 0.71 at 44 degrees C the over all statistical correlation improved markedly (r = 0.97). cpO2 for given paO2-values, however, varied widely: reliable discrimination between hypo-, normo- and hyperoxemia was impossible. Continuous registration allows recognition of the consequences of common clinical situations and nursing manipulations on cpO2. The electrode, however, is still susceptible of technical modifications.