Effect of Transcutaneous Electrode Temperature on Accuracy and Precision of Carbon Dioxide and Oxygen Measurements in the Preterm Infants.

Background: High electrode temperature during transcutaneous monitoring is associated with skin burns in extremely premature infants. We evaluated the accuracy and precision of CO and O measurements using lower transcutaneous electrode temperatures below 42°C.

Methods: We enrolled 20 neonates. Two transcutaneous monitors were placed simultaneously on each neonate, with one electrode maintained at 42°C and the other randomized to temperatures of 38, 39, 40, 41, and 42°C. Arterial blood was collected twice at each temperature.

Results: At the time of arterial blood sampling, values for transcutaneously measured partial pressure of CO (P ) were not significantly different among test temperatures. There was no evidence of skin burning at any temperature. For P , Bland-Altman analyses of all test temperatures versus 42°C showed good precision and low bias. Transcutaneously measured partial pressure of O (P ) values trended arterial values but had large negative bias.

Conclusion: Transcutaneous electrode temperatures as low as 38°C allow an assessment of P as accurate as that with electrodes at 42°C.