Skin Oxygen Permeability in Premature Infants

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Abstract
While 24 newborn infants (ages, 2-48 h; gestational ages, 24-42 wk) breathed various concentrations of O2, the PO2 (partial pressure of O2) values on their unheated skin surface were measured by an unheated microcathode electrode for transcutaneous (tc) PO2 monitoring. In infants with arterial PO2 values in the range of 50-100 torr and with similar skin temperatures, the mean surface PO2 of unheated skin was inversely related to birth wt: 27.2 torr in infants weighing less than 1500 gm, 14.3 torr in infants weighing 1500-2500 gm and 2.9 torr in infants weighing more than 2500 gm. In the smallest infants, the skin surface PO2 was significantly related to arterial PO2: it was about 1/3 of arterial PO2 as estimated by a 2nd electrode for transcutaneous PO2 monitoring heated to 44.degree. C. Phototherapy, crying or blood transfusion increased the suface PO2 of unheated skin, but not the tcPO2 measured at 44.degree. C. Blood flow to the skin in excess of its metabolic needs due to immature control of cutaneous circulation, along with low resistance to O2 diffusion, determines the high O2 permeability of skin in premature infants.

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