Transcutaneous oxygen monitoring of emergency department patients

Transcutaneous oxygen sensor values reflect peripheral oxygen tensions. During shock and resuscitation, transcutaneous oxygen sensor values depend on peripheral blood flow, and, therefore, reflect cardiac output and oxygen delivery. Transcutaneous oxygen sensor monitoring, therefore, should be quite useful when caring for acutely ill patients; data from 20 surgical emergency department patients support this hypothesis. A normal initial transcutaneous oxygen sensor value of greater than 60 torr, as found in 11 of our patients, implied relatively normal oxygenation and circulation. A low initial transcutaneous oxygen sensor value of less than 60 torr implied deficits of either arterial oxygenation or of perfusion (these can be distinguished by an arterial blood gas determination). In addition, transcutaneous oxygen sensor was useful for continuous monitoring during resuscitation. Successful correction of hypoxia and perfusion deficits results in increased transcutaneous oxygen sensor values. Failure of the transcutaneous oxygen sensor value to increase during resuscitation implies ongoing deficits of tissue oxygenation.