In situ monitoring

In situ monitoring has been increasingly accepted during the past five years. This approach has been applied to measurement of gas tensions such as pO2 and pCO2, to pH and ions, to the assessment of jaundice by measurement of bilirubin, and to analysis for 14CO2 after administration of labeled antipyrine and aminopyrine, for evaluation of hepatic damage. Various techniques have been developed for in situ monitoring: transcutaneous measurements, implantable sensors, ingestible radio-sensitive pills, and breath analysis. Here I review some of these approaches and their limitations. These limitations include the sparsity of circumstances under which the technique can be applied and the probable increase in health-care costs.