• Tomono Kishimoto, Yuji Fujino, Shinya Nishimura, Nobuyuki Taenaka, and Takashi Mashimo.
• Intensive Care Unit, Osaka University Hospital, Suita, Japan.
• J Clin Monit Comput. 2002 Feb 1; 17 (2): 87-92.

ObjectiveTo determine if the measurement of gastric intramucosal pH (pHi) is useful for evaluation of circulatory status of critically ill pediatric patients.DesignProspective clinical study.SettingGeneral intensive care unit in a university hospital.PatientsSeven pediatric patients (mean age: 2 y.o.); six post-cardiac surgery, one receiving barbiturate therapy.InterventionsTonometric catheters were placed via nasogastric approach. pHi was measured after confirmation of the catheter position by X-ray.Measurements And Main ResultsSaturation of venous blood oxygen (SvO2), arterial keton body ratio (AKBR), serum lactate level and pHi were evaluated simultaneously. No patients survived with pHi below 7.22; pHi above 7.11 significantly correlated with SvO2 values (r = 0.814, p < 0.001); pHi below 7.11 did not show any significant correlation with SvO2. Whereas SvO2 values of under 40% were distributed in the pHi range from 7.11 to 7.19, pHi below 7.11 occurred when SvO2 values were more than 40%. AKBR and serum lactate level did not correlate with pHi.ConclusionpHi can be a useful parameter for evaluating the circulatory status of critically ill pediatric patients; it allows reliable evaluation of splanchnic and peripheral perfusion.

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