Effects of time delay and body temperature on measurements of central venous oxygen saturation, venous-arterial blood carbon dioxide partial pressures difference, venous-arterial blood carbon dioxide partial pressures difference/arterial-venous oxygen difference ratio and lactate.

Background: Central venous oxygen saturation (ScvO), venous-arterial blood carbon dioxide partial pressures difference (Pv-aCO), venous-arterial blood carbon dioxide partial pressures difference/arterial-venous oxygen difference ratio (Pv-aCO/Ca-vO) and lactate are important parameters employed during shock resuscitation. We designed this study to confirm the effects of time delay and body temperature on measurements of these four parameters.

Methods: Arterial and central venous blood samples were simultaneously drawn by plastic syringes via indwelling intra-arterial and central venous catheters from critically ill patients. Blood gas analyses were performed on both samples and repeated after 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 min. Patients were divided into a control group and a high temperature group according to whether the body temperature was greater than 38 °C.

Results: A total of 30 critically ill patients were enrolled. There was a trend of increasing values for ScvO, Pv-aCO, Pv-aCO/Ca-vO and lactate over time (P < 0.001). The ScvO differences were all lower in high temperature group after 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 min when compared to the corresponding differences in the control group (P < 0.05). The differences in lactate values were slightly higher in the high temperature group, relative to the control group after 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 min (P < 0.05).

Conclusions: Measurements of ScvO, Pv-aCO, lactate and Pv-aCO/Ca-vO were affected by time delay or body temperature. We recommend that arterial and central venous blood gas samples be analyzed quickly within 10 min, especially for patients with body temperature <38 °C.

Trial Registration: ChiCTR, ChiCTR1800014484 . Registered 16 January 2018.