FEASIBILITY AND ACCURACY OF A FIBEROPTIC CATHETER FOR MEASUREMENT OF VENOUS OXYGEN-SATURATION IN NEWBORN-INFANTS

The current parameters of oxygenation, arterial oxygen saturation and arterial oxygen pressure represent the availability of oxygen to the t issues. Venous oxygen saturation reflects oxygen extraction and could be a more useful indicator of tissue oxygenation. Therefore, we tested the feasibility and accuracy of a fiberoptic catheter, inserted into the right atrium via the umbilical vein, to measure venous oxygen satu ration continuously. In 24 of 36 (67%) infants the catheter could be p laced into the right atrium. Blood samples were withdrawn through the catheter, analyzed with a hemoximeter and compared with simultaneously recorded oximeter values. The fiberoptic catheter readings correlated significantly with hemoximeter values and the mean difference of the 116 paired samples was -0.37%. We conclude that the success rate and c omplications of the fiberoptic catheter were similar to previously pub lished results. The oxygen saturation readings accurately represented oxygen saturation in the right atrium in newborn infants.