Neurosurgery
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Currently, no ideal method exists for monitoring the injured brain. Recently, a single, compact, fiberoptic sensor has become available for measuring oxygen, CO2, pH and temperature in blood. We have adapted this instrument for continuous use in brain tissue to measure oxygen tension, carbon dioxide tension (pCO2), pH, and temperature. ⋯ The brain temperature in the focally ischemic tissue decreased from 36.7 +/- 0.7 to 35.5 +/- 1.6 degrees C by the end of the experiment. The in vitro experiment demonstrated good linear correlation between the sensor readings and the blood gas analysis. Continuous monitoring of oxygen, CO2, pH, and temperature in damaged or at-risk brain tissue using a single sensor is now feasible and will, thus, allow improved continuous monitoring of neurosurgical patients who are at risk of significant secondary brain damage.