Subcutaneous gas tensions closely track ileal mucosal gas tensions in a model of endotoxaemia without anaerobism.

Objective: Few comparative data exist on the responses of the subcutaneous and splanchnic circulations to evolving endotoxic shock. We therefore compared continuous subcutaneous pO(2) (pO(2sc)) and pCO(2) (pCO(2sc)) with simultaneous continuous gut luminal pCO(2) (pCO(2gi)) in an animal model of endotoxaemia and examined whether changes in gas tensions track tissue energy charge (EC).

Design: Prospective observational study.