title: Overestimation of neonatal PO2 by collection of arterial blood gas values with the butterfly infusion set.
abstract: The butterfly, or scalp vein infusion set, is a widely used and convenient way to collect arterial blood gas samples in neonates. Analyzing arterial blood gas values by using this technique in a clinical situation, we obtained elevated values of PO2 in blood samples collected and measured from butterfly tubing in comparison with tuberculin syringe controls. Diffusion of gas through the polyvinylchloride tubing was suggested and proved by a study of pairs of butterfly and tuberculin syringes filled with venous blood from the blood bank. In conclusion, the butterfly gives falsely elevated PO2 values as a result of gas diffusion and is not a reliable technique for arterial blood gas sampling in neonates.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Tennessee, Memphis.
authors.forename: O P
authors.initials: OP
authors.lastname: Thelin
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Karanth
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pourcyrous
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Cooke
mesh_terms: D001800:Blood Specimen Collection / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn / Q000097:blood*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood*; D014469:Umbilical Arteries / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen