Archives of medical research
-
Clinical Trial Controlled Clinical Trial
Are oxygen indices effective for predicting pathological intrapulmonary shunt in mechanically ventilated children?
This 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. ⋯ The 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.