[Transcutaneous measurement of partial pressure of oxygen in paediatric intensive care (author's transl)].

The method of measuring oxygen partial pressure transcutaneously has provided an opportunity for continuous monitoring of patients on long-term resporator treatment. It has been convincingly demonstrated that serial samples obtained by arterial puncture are inadequate for controlling oxygen supply. An ideal correlation between arterial and transcutaneous pO2 was obtained when the control arterial sample was taken via an indwelling arterial catheter and artefacts, e.g. reaction to the needle puncture, had been eliminated. The necessary percentage of oxygen in the inspiratory mixture can be accurately gauged by continously measuring arterial pO2, as can changes brought about by the application of positive end-expiratory pressure in children on long-term ventilation. The transcutaneous measurement makes it possible to improve continuous monitoring of critically ill patients, and to carry out sparingly and safely long-term ventilation in them.