Transcutaneous Partial Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide Pressures Compared With Blood Gas Values

Agreement of Transcutaneous Partial Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide Pressure With Arterial and Capillary Blood Gas Values. A Single Centre Prospective Non-randomized Trial in Critically Ill Neonates.

Partial blood oxygen and carbon dioxide pressures obtained in critical ill neonates by transcutaneous sensors will be compared to respective values obtained by medically indicated arterial and capillary blood gas analyses. The influence of blood withdrawal method, sensor operational temperature and application time, presence of cyanotic heart malformations and/or intra or extra cardiac right to left shunt, vasoactive drugs, elevated non-conjugated bilirubin, and skin and soft tissue oedema, skin colour and perfusion conditions will be elucidated as well as sensor's safety. Study duration will be 48 hours with sensors applied and additional 4 hours of further surveillance for thermal injury.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Late premature or term birth newborn infants (34 0/7 until 43 6/7 weeks gestational age (GA)).
• Age between first day of life and 43 6/7 weeks postmenstrual age.
• Ability of care taker to understand verbal and written instructions and informed consent in German.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Care taker unable or unwilling to give written informed consent in German.
• Care taker not understanding German and without a family member able to translate.
• Written informed consent cannot be obtained for any other reason.