Continuous monitoring of jugular bulb oxyhaemoglobin saturation using the Edslab dual lumen oximetry catheter during and after cardiac surgery

Fibreoptic jugular bulb oximetry has been validated for use in the care of severely head-injured patients. We compared bench and fibreoptic methods of measuring jugular bulb oxyhaemoglobin saturation (Sjo(2)) in 33 patients u ndergoing cardiac surgery both during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and in t he early postoperative period. After insertion of a fibreoptic reflectance oximetry catheter into the jugular bulb, it was calibrated against a bench oximeter. Comparisons were made while on CPB (n = 60) and in the postoperat ive period for up to 18 h (n = 215). There was negligible bias throughout. There were wide limits of agreement (mean difference +/- 2SD) between the t wo methods during operation (-20.29% to 18.05%), whereas after operation th e limits of agreement were far narrower (-6.39% and 7.45%). Measurement of Sjo(2) by the fibreoptic method compared poorly with bench oximetry during CPB but there was good agreement between the two methods in the early posto perative period.