• J L Zimmerman and R P Dellinger.
• Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX.
• Crit. Care Med. 1993 Apr 1;21(4):495-500.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the in vivo performance of a continuous intra-arterial blood gas monitor as compared with in vitro arterial blood gases for measurements of PaO2, PaCO2, and arterial pH.DesignConsecutive patient enrollment.SettingMedical intensive care unit of a county teaching hospital.PatientsFive critically ill patients.InterventionsAll patients had a fiberoptic sensor placed through a 20-gauge cannula inserted into the radial artery. Sensor and arterial blood gas measurements were monitored up to 68 hrs. Arterial blood gases were analyzed on two blood gas analyzers.Measurements And Main ResultsA total of 104 arterial blood gases were obtained for comparison of sensor measurements with blood gas analyzer values. Comparison of the sensor values with the blood gas analyzer values showed bias and precision values of -0.021 and 0.037 for arterial pH, 1.74 and 6.06 torr (0.23 and 0.81 kPa) for PaCO2, and -5.89 and 13.19 torr (-0.79 and 1.76 kPa) for PaO2, respectively. Comparison of the two blood gas analyzer measurements showed bias and precision values of -0.030 and 0.010 for arterial pH, 1.96 and 2.55 torr (0.26 and 0.34 kPa) for PaCO2, and -5.77 and 17.15 torr (-0.77 and 2.29 kPa) for PaO2, respectively. No complications attributable to the sensor were detected.ConclusionsThe performance of this fiberoptic continuous intra-arterial blood gas monitor is comparable to that of blood gas analyzers and compares favorably with previously reported studies utilizing other sensors in reliably and reproducibly approximating PaO2, PaCO2, and arterial pH values. This monitoring capability was accomplished with no patient morbidity. Further study is indicated to confirm these initial results and to establish the role of a continuous intra-arterial blood gas monitor in critically ill patients.

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