Measurement of gastric-to-end-tidal carbon dioxide difference in neonates requiring intensive care.

Objective: Gastric-arterial partial CO(2) pressure gap (P(g-)(a)CO(2) gap) measured by gastric tonometry may detect the disturbance of splanchnic perfusion. As in the neonatal age it is very difficult to follow up the circulatory condition with frequent acid-base examinations, we wanted to compare the P(g-)(a)CO(2) gap with an alternative gap of P(g)CO(2) - end-tidal carbon dioxide (P(g)(-)(ET)CO(2) gap).

Methods: A prospective study was performed on ventilated neonates requiring intensive therapy (n = 44, weight: 1813 ± 977 g).