Transcutaneous Carbon Dioxide Tension in Newborn Infants: Reliability and Safety of Continuous 24-Hour Measurement at 42°C

Abstract

In 58 newborn infants a new iridium oxide sensor was evaluated for transcutaneous carbon dioxide (tcPco2) monitoring at 42°C with a prolonged fixation time of 24 hours. The correlation of tcPco2 (y; mm Hg) v Paco2 (x; mm Hg) for 586 paired values was: y = 4.6 + 1.45x; r = .89; syx = 6.1 mm Hg. The correlation was not influenced by the duration of fixation. The transcutaneous sensor detected hypocapnia (Paco2 < 35 mm Hg) in 74% and hypercapnia (Pco2 > 45 mm Hg) in 74% of all cases. After 24 hours, calibration shifts were less than 4 mm Hg in 90% of the measuring periods. In 86% of the infants, no skin changes were observed; in 12% of infants, there were transitional skin erythemas and in 2% a blister which disappeared without scarring. In newborn infants with normal BPs, continuous tcPco2 monitoring at 42°C can be extended for as many as 24 hours without loss of reliability or increased risk for skin burns.