Subcutaneous tissue oxygen and carbon dioxide tensions during hyperbaric oxygenation: an experimental study in rats.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the response of subcutaneous tissue oxygen (O2) and carbon dioxide (CO2) tensions to hyperbaric oxygenation.


METHODS
Experimental study.


METHODS
University hospital, Finland.


METHODS
10 Wistar rats.


METHODS
Subcutaneous tissue PO2 and PCO2 were directly measured with an implanted Silastic tube tonometer and capillary sampling technique while breathing air and exposed to hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) at 2.5 or 2.8 ATA pressure. Hyperbaric exposures were carried out in a large multiplace chamber pressurised with air.


METHODS
Subcutaneous tissue PO2 and PCO2.


RESULTS
The mean subcutaneous PO2 rose from the baseline of 8 kPa (60 mmHg) to 16 kPa (112 mmHg) when rats breathed room air during pressurisation to 2.8 atm. When the rats breathed oxygen at 2.5 ATA the maximal mean tissue PO2 was four times higher than the mean starting value. During the HBO treatment at 2.8 ATA the tissue PO2 rose to a value about five times above baseline. The tissue PCO2 values almost doubled during the exposure to HBO at 2.5 ATA, probably because elimination of carbon dioxide was impaired.


CONCLUSIONS
Measurements of tissue PO2 and PCO2 with an implanted Silastic tonometer and a capillary sampling technique can successfully be adapted to hyperbaric conditions. The method yielded reproducible results and is applicable to clinical use in hyperbaric medicine.
Korhonen
K
K
Department of Surgery, University of Turku, Finland.
Kuttila
K
K
Niinikoski
J
J
D000818:Animals; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D006931:Hyperbaric Oxygenation; D010100:Oxygen; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D010100:Oxygen