NONINVASIVE OXYGEN MONITORING TECHNIQUES

Noninvasive oxygen monitoring in the critical care setting involves bo th monitoring of the gases delivered to the patient and monitoring of the patient's oxygenation. Noninvasive patient monitoring devices incl ude those that measure oxygen tension (PO2) and those that measure hem oglobin saturation (SO2) Two clinically available techniques for monit oring PO2 are transcutaneous oxygen monitoring (PtcO(2)) and conjuncti val oxygen monitoring (PcjO(2)). Devices that measure saturation are t he pulse oximeter (Spo(2)) and the tissue oximeter (near-infrared spec troscopy or NIRS). This article discusses the development, technical, physiologic, and clinical characteristics of each of these monitoring techniques.