title: Fiber-optic chemical sensors (Gas-Stat) for blood gas monitoring during hypothermic extracorporeal circulation.
abstract: Measurements of pO2, pCO2 and pH by optical fluorescence microsensing technology has recently become available for monitoring blood gases during extracorporeal circulation ECC). We have compared simultaneous measurements with fiber-optic sensors (Gas-Stat, Bentley) and electrochemical sensors (ABL-4, Radiometer) on discrete samples. In 10 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting during hypothermic (25 degrees C) ECC and hemodilution (hemoglobin concentration 4 mmol.l-1) arterial and venous pO2, pCO2 and pH were measured in-line in the extracorporeal circuit at the actual blood temperature. Simultaneous and anaerobically collected blood samples in glass syringes were analyzed within five minutes at 37 degrees C in the ABL-4. Linear regression analysis of the values at actual temperature shows the following equations: Gas-Stat = Y, ABL-4 = X: pO2 (kPa): Y = 1.04 X + 0.5 r = 0.95 n = 136; pCO2 (kPa): Y = 0.71 X + 1.5 r = 0.79 n = 136; pH: Y = 0.788 X + 1.590 r = 0.76 n = 136. The advantage of the Gas-Stat is continuous monitoring of blood gas parameters during ECC. The present study shows that measurements of pO2, pCO2 and pH with fiber-optic chemical sensors may be reliable. The differences between the two principles of measurement may be due to unknown factors interfering with the in-line measurements or to variations in sensitivity and stability of the individual sensor.
mesh_terms: D001784:Blood Gas Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D005112:Extracorporeal Circulation; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D007036:Hypothermia, Induced; D055100:Optical Fibers; D012044:Regression Analysis