title: Continuous central venous saturation monitoring in pediatrics: a case report.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report the use of a new pediatric central venous catheter that offers continuous central venous saturation (ScVO2) monitoring in the critically ill child.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case report.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pediatric intensive care unit in a tertiary care children's hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 3-month-old child, following cardiac surgery, with an isolated decrease in central venous saturations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Diagnosis of pericardial effusion by echocardiography followed by surgical drainage.
  
  
  RESULTS
  ScVO2 readings quickly returned to normal, and the remaining patient course was uneventful.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We report the first case of a newly modified central venous catheter (PediaSat Oximetry Catheter, Edwards Lifesciences LLC, Irvine, CA) for children and demonstrate its utility in a patient with impaired oxygen delivery when traditional markers remain stable. This catheter enabled the rapid diagnosis of cardiac compromise due to pericardial effusion, leading to early treatment. Traditional central catheter functions and insertion technique are maintained, making the catheter potentially useful in any critically ill child.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Spenceley
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Skippen
authors.forename: Gordon
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Krahn
authors.forename: Niranjan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kissoon
mesh_terms: D002303:Cardiac Output, Low / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000295:instrumentation*; D016638:Critical Illness; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000517:prevention & control; D007223:Infant; D015278:Intensive Care Units, Pediatric; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000295:instrumentation*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000032:analysis; D010490:Pericardial Effusion / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen