[Transcutaneous oxygen tension measurement in pediatrics (author's transl)]

The development of a new electrode by A. Huch, R. Huch, and D. Lübbers to measure the arterial oxygen tension transcutaneously (tcPo2) has provided the opportunity for continuous monitoring in critically ill children. For the first time it is possible to monitor oxygen therapy and to minimize considerably the risk of oxygen therapy. With this technique respirator therapy can be managed much more critically and effectively. Changes in PaO2 are recognized within seconds and dangerous hyper- and hypoxias can be corrected immediately. We demonstrated that there exist different heart rate patterns with hypoxemia; these changes normally are not recognized with convential methods. The significance of the silent heart rate pattern has not yet been established. As there are no problems now with the manufacturing of the electrodes, we hope that this excellent method will be used wherever critically ill children are treated.