THE EFFECTS OF MECHANICAL PRESSURE AND LOCAL STASIS ON TRANSCUTANEOUS MONITORING OF FETAL OXYGEN TENSION

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Abstract
A methodological study of the influence of local stasis and mechanical pressure on the [human] continuous transcutaneous O2 tension (tcPO2) electrode during intrapartum monitoring is presented. No effect of mechanical pressure up to 7.3 kPa [helo Pascal] (55 mm Hg) on the electrode membrane was found. Reduced blood flow in the capillaries of the tissue beneath the electrode caused by stasis or pressure effect resulted, below a certain threshold value, in tcPO2 decrease. An attempt to differentiate between a methodologically caused decrease and a decrease due to impaired oxygenation must be made when evaluating the absolute fetal arterial O2 tension from fetal tcPO2. The consistently observed decrease in relative local perfusion (flow) may be a help in this respect.

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