Effect of Transcutaneous Electrode Temperature on Accuracy and Precision of Carbon Dioxide and Oxygen Measurements in the Preterm Infants

摘要

BACKGROUND: High electrode temperature during transcutaneous monitoring is associated with skin burns in extremely premature infants. We evaluated the accuracy and precision of CO2 and O-2 measurements using lower transcutaneous electrode temperatures below 42 degrees C. METHODS: We enrolled 20 neonates. Two transcutaneous monitors were placed simultaneously on each neonate, with one electrode maintained at 42 degrees C and the other randomized to temperatures of 38, 39, 40, 41, and 42 degrees C. Arterial blood was collected twice at each temperature. RESULTS: At the time of arterial blood sampling, values for transcutaneously measured partial pressure of CO2 (P-tcCO2) were not significantly different among t es t temperatures. There was no evidence of skin burning at any temperature. For P-tcCO2 Bland-Altman analyses of all test temperatures versus 42 degrees C showed good precision and low bias. Transcutaneously measured partial pressure of O-2 (P-tcCO2) values trended arterial values but had large negative bias. CONCLUSION: Transcutaneous electrode temperatures as low as 38 degrees C allow an assessment of P-tcCO2 as accurate as that with electrodes at 42 degrees C.