Conjunctival oxygen monitoring: relationship to ventricular arrhythmias.
The results of conjunctival oxygen monitoring in a critically ill patient whose cardiac rhythm changed from sinus tachycardia to ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation and back to sinus tachycardia are described. Monitoring revealed a significant decrease in conjunctival oxygen tension 2 minutes before ventricular tachycardia was manifested by continuous electrocardiography, and an immediate rise in conjunctival oxygen tension was seen with the resumption of sinus tachycardia. This monitoring modality may be a useful adjunct in the hemodynamic evaluation of critically ill patients.
Harding
S M
SM
Department of Internal Medicine, Albert Einstein Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19141.
Podolsky
S M
SM
Wertheimer
J H
JH
D000368:Aged; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000098:blood supply; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010092:Oximetry / Q000379:methods*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D013616:Tachycardia, Sinus / Q000097:blood*; D013617:Tachycardia, Supraventricular / Q000097:blood*; D014693:Ventricular Fibrillation / Q000097:blood*
D010100:Oxygen