[Intraoperative monitoring in artificial respiration of premature and newborn infants. II. Monitoring of arterial oxygenation].

Monitoring of adequate arterial oxygenation serves to avoid periods of hypoxaemia and hyperoxaemia with potentially life threatening or organ-damaging sequelae. Basic clinical monitoring, i.e., inspection and auscultation, is mandatory. In all infants, paO2 may be continuously and indirectly monitored by measurement of transcutaneous pO2 (tcpO2). The use of pulse oximetry for non-invasive measurement of arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) is still undergoing clinical testing. Invasive monitoring of gas exchange is essential in prolonged or intrathoracic interventions as well as in neonates with cardiopulmonary problems. paO2 can be estimated by capillary blood gas analysis; arterial blood gas analysis, however, is required for exact determination of paO2 and of the arterio-cutaneous pO2 gradient (atcDO2). Intraarterial fibre optic determination of oxygen saturation or determination of paO2 with an intraarterial Clark electrode does not appear to be well suited for intraoperative conditions.