Clinical assessment of a continuous intra-arterial blood gas monitoring system

Abstract

We evaluated the clinical performance of a continuous intraarterial blood gas monitoring (CIABG) system which includes a fluorometric intravascular sensor. Seventeen patients undergoing elective surgery were monitored perioperatively with the CIABG system (PB3300; Puritan Bennett, Carlsbad, CA). Conventional laboratory blood gas analyses (BGA) were performed simultaneously whenever indicated, and the values were compared with those obtained from the CIABG system. Monitoring time ranged from 24 to 72 hr. The biases (average error between PB3300 and BGA) of pH, PCO2 and PO2 were 0.003 pH unit,- 2.8 mmHg, and 0.9 mmHg in the operating room (OR), and 0.005 pH unit, 3.9 mmHg, and 8.5 mmHg in the intensive care unit (ICU), respectively. The precision (standard deviation of the bias) of pH, PCO2 and PO2 were 0.030 pH unit, 2.1 mmHg, and 29.9 mmHg in the OR and 0.035 pH unit, 3.8 mmHg, and 14.7 mmHg in the ICU, respectively. Although the PB3300 system was clinically useful as a trend monitor, the system's precision and reliability were unacceptable for estimation of true blood gas values. © 1994 Canadian Anesthesiologists.