title: Validity of gastric intramucosal pH (pHi) for circulatory evaluation in pediatric patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine if the measurement of gastric intramucosal pH (pHi) is useful for evaluation of circulatory status of critically ill pediatric patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective clinical study.
  
  
  METHODS
  General intensive care unit in a university hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seven pediatric patients (mean age: 2 y.o.); six post-cardiac surgery, one receiving barbiturate therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tonometric catheters were placed via nasogastric approach. pHi was measured after confirmation of the catheter position by X-ray.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Saturation of venous blood oxygen (SvO2), arterial keton body ratio (AKBR), serum lactate level and pHi were evaluated simultaneously. No patients survived with pHi below 7.22; pHi above 7.11 significantly correlated with SvO2 values (r = 0.814, p < 0.001); pHi below 7.11 did not show any significant correlation with SvO2. Whereas SvO2 values of under 40% were distributed in the pHi range from 7.11 to 7.19, pHi below 7.11 occurred when SvO2 values were more than 40%. AKBR and serum lactate level did not correlate with pHi.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  pHi can be a useful parameter for evaluating the circulatory status of critically ill pediatric patients; it allows reliable evaluation of splanchnic and peripheral perfusion.
authors.affiliation: Intensive Care Unit, Osaka University Hospital, Suita, Japan.
authors.forename: Tomono
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kishimoto
authors.forename: Yuji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fujino
authors.forename: Shinya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nishimura
authors.forename: Nobuyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Taenaka
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mashimo
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016638:Critical Illness; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests