[The transmucosal measurement of oxygen partial pressure (PO2) in dogs].

A transmucosal measuring method for monitoring PO2 continuously is described. In an undisturbed microcirculation, the transmucosal PO2 measurement may complement the measurement of PO2 in arterialized blood in order to diagnose several respiratory diseases as well as heart diseases and circulatory disorders. Investigations with uraemic patients and with dogs under conditions of neuroleptoanalgesia serve to explain the influence of microcirculation on transmucosal PO2. This influence allows an inference from transmucosal PO2 to the function or dysfunction of microcirculation in an organism. Therefore transmucosal PO2 measurement offers the possibility of monitoring high-risk patients continuously.