[Transcutaneous measurements of pO2 in newborns with RDS (author's transl)]

pO2 was measured transcutaneously (commercially available Clark Electrode, Bioelectronics Roche) with two different electrode temperatures in new born infants. The correlation between paO2 (arteria radialis) and ptcO2 was bad (r= 0,74) with electrode temperature of 42 degrees C. When the electrode was heated to 44 degrees C there was a very good correlation (r= 0,969) in 80 simultaneous measurements of paO2 (umbilical arterial catheter) and ptcO2. The mean values and standard deviations of pO2 values in hypoxic, normoxic and hyperoxic states are very similar: hypoxic: paO2 34,3 "/- 7,9, ptcO2 35,2 +/- 14,0, normoxic: paO2 78,7 +/- 14,3 ptcO2 78,8 +/- 16,7, hyperoxic: paO2 141,8 +/- 37,1, ptcO2 134,4 +/- 40,8 mmHg). The specific advantage of transcutaneous measurements is the trend registration for hours. With electrodes temperatures of 44 degrees C however, there is a risk of superficial burns if the electrode is attached to the identical site for 6 hours or more.