Underestimation of arterial oxygen tension by transcutaneous electrode with increasing age in infants

To investigate the effect of increasing gestational and postnatal age on the relation between transcutaneous oxygen tension (tcPO2) and arterial oxygen tension (PaO2) 160 simultaneous measurements of tcPO2 and PaO2 tensions were made on 42 infants born at 24-41 weeks' gestation and aged 0-32 weeks from birth. Irrespective of gestational age a progressive fall in the tcPO2:PaO2 ratio with increasing postnatal age was found. At all postnatal ages tcPO2:PaO2 tended to be lower in the more mature infants.

Estimation of arterial oxygen and carbon dioxide tensions by a single transcutaneous sensor

A transcutaneous electrochemical sensor designed to estimate arterial oxygen (Pao2) and carbon dioxide (Paco2) tensions simultaneously and continuously was evaluated in newborn infants with respiratory illnesses. After calibration with two dry gas mixtures the sensor gave estimates of Pao2 and Paco2 that were comparable with those obtained by two separate electrodes that are already established in clinical use.

Pneumothorax and cerebral haemorrhage in preterm infants

Real-time ultrasound was used to examine the brains of all 95 infants born at less than 33 weeks of gestation who were admitted to the neonatal unit of University College Hospital in 1979. Evidence was obtained which strongly suggested that pneumothorax causes and aggravates haemorrhage into the germinal layer and ventricles of preterm infants.

Transcutaneous estimation of arterial PO2 and PCO2 in newborn infants with a single electrochemical sensor

A transcutaneous electrochemical sensor designed to estimate arterial oxygen (PaO2) and carbon dioxide (PaCO2) tensions simultaneously and continuously was evaluated in newborn infants with respiratory illnesses. After calibration of the sensor against a sample of arterial blood from the infant, the accuracy of estimation of PaO2 and PaCO2 seemed sufficient for clinical purposes.