Continuous Intramucosal PCO2 Measurement

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Abstract
In recent experimental work (unpublished data), we saw that the reduction of mesenteric blood flow by 60% causes a sudden and rapid increase to 300%-400% of baseline of the continuously meas- ured Pica,. This Pica, increase was completely reversible when inadequate perfusion was restored in due time and did not result in permanent tissue damage. However, after three hours of reduced mesenteric perfusion, the Pica, remained increased, indicating a permanent tissue injury. These results are in agreement with the reports of other authors, which demonstrate in animal models that changes in Pica, and the calculated pHi occur immediately with the onset of mesenteric ischemia and not only after the occurrence of irreversible intestinal ischemic injury (3-5). Therefore, it is this early increase in Pica, that allows the detec- tion of inadequate tissue perfusion and, thus, the early therapy before irreversible damage. In conclusion, we cannot understand the denial of a new method for the continuous determination of Pica, before its clinical value has been tested and sufficient experi-