The effect of transcutaneous Po2 monitoring on the frequency of arterial blood gas analysis in the newborn with respiratory distress.

Nineteen infants with respiratory distress and indwelling arterial lines were monitored with a transcutaneous O2 (PtcO2) monitor for 24 h each. These infants were matched with comparably sick newborns not monitored with PtcO2 and cared for in the intensive care nursery within the previous 18 months. The number of arterial blood gases (ABGs) drawn in each group was examined. Results showed that in all but 1 infant, the patients who had PtcO2 monitoring also had fewer ABGs drawn. The mean number of ABGs in the PtcO2 monitored infants was 12.5 + 2.9 (SD) and the mean number of ABGs in the non-PtcO2 monitored infants was 16.2 + 2.4. The authors conclude that supplementary O2 monitoring of sick infants with PtcO2 reduces the frequency of ABG analysis.