title: Continuous SvO2 measurement in infants undergoing congenital heart surgery--first clinical experiences with a new fiberoptic probe.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  SvO2-guided therapy, using fiberoptic oximetric catheters can help to improve the outcome after complex congenital heart surgery especially in infants undergoing the Stage 1-Norwood-Procedure. So far, fiberoptic catheters have to be placed transthoracically by the surgeon into the vena cava or the pulmonary artery putting the infant at an additional risk of bleeding at the time of catheter removal.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used a new percutaneously applicable fiberoptic probe for continuous monitoring of central venous saturation in three infants undergoing modifications of the Stage 1-Norwood-Procedure (reconstruction of the aortic arch), two in combination with a bidirectional cavopulmonary connection (Glenn shunt), the third with reconstruction of the pulmonary arteries (biventricular repair). The approved clinical monitoring system consisted of a small (2 F) fiberoptic probe and a bed-side-monitor. The probe was inserted via the routine central venous access for such a case.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Continuous SvO2 measurement is feasible in infants using the CeVOX system in combination with routine central venous access, and the advantages of continuous monitoring are discussed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We believe that compared with transthoracically inserted oximetric catheter, the presented percutaneous technique avoids additional risks at the time of catheter removal (i.e. bleeding) and has become part of our standard management.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology, Intensive Care Medicine, Pain Therapy, University Hospital Giessen and Marburg, Giessen, Germany. matthias.f.mueller@chiru.med.uni-giessen.de
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Löhr
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Scholz
authors.forename: Josef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Thul
authors.forename: Hakan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Akintürk
authors.forename: Gunter
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hempelmann
mesh_terms: D002315:Cardiopulmonary Bypass / Q000379:methods; D002404:Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016343:Monitoring, Intraoperative / Q000379:methods*; D010092:Oximetry / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen