[Blood gas-analysis and heart catheterisation in newborns with extreme low oxygen content of arterial blood because of congenital heart failure (complete transposition of great vessels) (author's transl)].

Importance of atrial septostomia in newborns with complete transposition of the great heart vessels was to be proved in 75 children, 27 of them with an atrial shunt and 48 without additional shunt. Arterial oxygen-tension while breathing roomair rose from 19 Torr without shunt to 29 Torr after septostomia. Corresponding values while breathing oxygen are 23 Torr before and 40 Torr after septostomia. In 14 children 2-5 years after septostomia control-values of oxygen-tension were 42 Torr in aorta (ventr. dext.), 34 Torr in v. cava, 67 Torr in a. pulm. (ventr. sin.) and 104 Torr in v. pulm. Differences of oxygen-content were 2,97 vol.% between aorta and v. cava, 2.83 vol.% between v. pulm. and a. pulm., 7.46 vol.% between v. pulm. and aorta and 10.34 vol.% between v. pulm. and v. cava.