Continuous central venous oximetry monitoring

Traditionally, bedside evaluation of tissue oxygenation has been accomplished by assessing mixed venous oxygen saturation (SvO2) using a fiberoptic pulmonary artery catheter. It may not always be feasible to place a pulmonary artery catheter early in resuscitation or outside of the ICU. Introduction of continuous central venous oxygen saturation (ScvO2) monitoring that uses a modified, central venous catheter is making it possible to evaluate ongoing tissue oxygenation in nontraditional settings, such as the Emergency Department. Continuous measurement of ScvO2 will alert the clinician to major derangements in oxygen balance, which allows for timely implementation of appropriate interventions.