title: Transcutaneous carbon dioxide pressure for monitoring patients with severe croup.
abstract: In a prospective investigation of 17 children with severe croup, we analyzed the effect of epinephrine inhalations and mild sedation with chloral hydrate on transcutaneous carbon dioxide pressure (tcPCO2), pulse oximetry measurements, and croup scores. There was a highly significant reduction (p less than 0.001) in the tcPCO2 values and croup scores after inhalation of epinephrine. The changes in the tcPCO2 values correlated with the clinical findings. Mild sedation also significantly improved the croup scores but failed to influence the tcPCO2 values. There was not statistically significant difference in pulse oximetry saturation, fraction of administered oxygen, heart rate, or respiratory rate before and after inhalation of epinephrine or chloral hydrate administration. Monitoring tcPCO2 appears to be a reliable and objective tool for managing patients with upper airway obstruction, whereas croup scores may be misleading.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fanconi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Burger
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Maurer
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Uehlinger
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ghelfi
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mühlemann
mesh_terms: D001785:Blood Gas Monitoring, Transcutaneous; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000097:blood*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002697:Chloral Hydrate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003440:Croup / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D010092:Oximetry; D011312:Pressure; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012119:Respiration; D012138:Respiratory Therapy
chemical_list: D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D002697:Chloral Hydrate; D004837:Epinephrine