Continuous transcutaneous and intraarterial oxygen measurement during experimental hypoxemia in infant monkeys.

The relationship between PaO2 and tcPO2 is an important one and provides a physiologic measure of impaired circulatory control or vascular damage. The central and peripheral mechanisms involved have to be studied further. Although tcPO2 equates well with PaO2 in many circumstances, appropriate oxygen conserving, centrally mediated vasoconstriction can overcome the thermally induced local vasodilation. Investigation of the control of peripheral circulation in both clinical medicine and the experimental animal is advanced by the technique of transcutaneous oxygen recording.