• I Maulen-Radovan, P Gutiérrez Castrellón, E Cosio Ochoa, and M Márquez Aguirre.
• División de Investigación Médica, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, México, D.F., Mexico. maulen@cenids.ssa.gob.mx
• Arch. Med. Res. 1999 May 1;30(3):179-85.

BackgroundThis study was undertaken to evaluate whether oxygen indices accurately predict pathological intrapulmonary shunt (Qsp/Qt), and to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of the FiO2-required formula to obtain a desired arterial oxygen tension (PaO2) in mechanically ventilated children.MethodsA prospective, hospital-based, comparative study was conducted on 50 mechanically ventilated children at the Intensive Care Units of the National Institute of Pediatrics (INP) in Mexico City. Blood gas data were prospectively collected from 50 critically ill, mechanically ventilated children, 50 taken before and 40 after FiO2 change. Assessment of Qsp/Qt, P(A-a)O2, PaO2/FiO2, PaO2/PAO2, and P(A-a)O2/PaO2 was carried out before and after FiO2 change.ResultsIn first blood gas data, 31 patients were hypoxemic (PaO2 < 90 Torr), 10 were normal, and 9 were hyperoxemic (PaO2 > 100 Torr). Forty patients required FiO2 modifications that were carried out according to Maxwell's formula. Five children showed persistent oxygen disturbance after FiO2 changes. P(A-a)O2, PaO2/FiO2, PaO2/PAO2, and P(A-a)O2/PaO2 had sensitivities of 0.66, 0.71, 0.98, and 0.93, respectively, and specificities of 0.79, 0.91, 0.29, and 0.64, respectively, to detect pathological Qsp/Qt. All oxygen indices changed significantly after FiO2 modifications compared from initials; Qsp/Qt also showed significant change after FiO2 change. Pearson product-moment showed lineal correlation between each index, and Qsp/Qt demonstrated their significant correlation (p < 0.01). Correlation of Qsp/Qt and PaO2/FiO2 and PaO2/PAO2 was significantly higher in younger children (< 13 years) p < 0.05. The FiO2-required formula to obtain a desired PaO2 had a sensitivity of 0.93 and a specificity of 0.75.ConclusionsThe oxygen indices showed sufficient efficacy to detect pathological intrapulmonary shunt, and to have a statistically significant lineal correlation that permits its use during the clinical evaluation of oxygen transport data in most mechanically ventilated children, which is consistent with other reports on adult populations. However, one limitation for its use in clinical assessment, as reported in previous studies, would be that all indices in the present study are FiO2-dependent; therefore, when the FiO2 varies, the use is misleading. The FiO2-required formula is efficient for defining the appropriated FiO2 for the obtaining of the desired PaO2, but will always be merely a guide that should be confirmed through blood gas analysis.

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