Monitoring Gas Exchange During Hypothermia for Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy

Conclusions: Hypothermia shifts oxygen-hemoglobin dissociation curve to the left resulting in lower PaO2 for pulse oximetry. Monitoring oxygenation with arterial blood gas uncorrected for body temperature and pulse oximetry may underestimate hypoxemia in hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy infants during whole-body hypothermia, while end-tidal CO2 reliably correlates with temperature-corrected PaCO2.
Source: Pediatric Critical Care Medicine - Category: Pediatrics Tags: Neonatal Intensive Care Source Type: research