title: Application of transcutaneous carbon dioxide tension monitoring with low electrode temperatures in premature infants in the early postnatal period.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this article is to evaluate the accuracy, precision, and safety of transcutaneous carbon dioxide tension (TcPCO2) monitoring at different electrode temperatures in preterm infants in the early postnatal period.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 26 neonates with a median birth weight of 974 g (432-1,694 g) and gestational age of 28.0 weeks (26.1-31.3 weeks) were studied in the first 5 days of life. A total of 252 simultaneous pairs (TcPCO2 and arterial carbon dioxide tension [PaCO2]) were analyzed at 38, 39, and 40°C at 26 and 27 weeks, and at 38, 39, 40, and 42°C at 28 to 31 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean difference of TcPCO2 and PaCO2 (bias) increased from 3.93 mm Hg at 42°C to 5.64 mm Hg at 40°C, 6.58 mm Hg at 39°C, and 6.07 mm Hg at 38°C. Standard deviation (SD) of the bias increased from 4.17 mm Hg at 42°C to 4.76 mm Hg at 40°C, 5.29 mm Hg at 39°C, and 5.07 mm Hg at 38°C. Adverse skin lesions were not observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TcPCO2 measurements are the most accurate and precise at an electrode temperature of 42°C. However, in premature babies, monitoring at 38, 39, and 40°C is possible provided a bias correction of 6 mm Hg and SD of 5 mm Hg are applied.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatal Medicine, Osaka Medical Center and Research Institute for Maternal and Child Health, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Katsuya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hirata
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatal Medicine, Osaka Medical Center and Research Institute for Maternal and Child Health, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nishihara
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatal Medicine, Osaka Medical Center and Research Institute for Maternal and Child Health, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Yukari
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Oshima
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatal Medicine, Osaka Medical Center and Research Institute for Maternal and Child Health, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Shinya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hirano
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatal Medicine, Osaka Medical Center and Research Institute for Maternal and Child Health, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kitajima
mesh_terms: D001784:Blood Gas Analysis; D001785:Blood Gas Monitoring, Transcutaneous / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D004566:Electrodes; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D006935:Hypercapnia / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016857:Hypocapnia / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D062071:Infant, Extremely Premature; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013696:Temperature