Reliability of transcutaneous measurement of oxygen and carbon dioxide partial pressure with a combined Po2-Pco2electrochemical sensor in the fetus during labor

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Abstract
A combined single electrochemical sensor designed to measure synchronously and transcutaneously O2 partial pressure [tcPO2] and CO2 partial pressure (tcPCO2 prototype) was applied onto the scalp in 21 fetuses during labor. The values of tcPO2 and tcPCO2 were compared with the values of fetal blood analaysis (FBA) and blood from the umbilical artey (UA). The tcPCO2 values and the FBA values were very consistent (r = 0.95, P < 0.001). For the comparison of tcPCO2 with the values of the umbilical artery, the correlation coefficient was lower (r = 0.76. P < 0.05). The transcutaneous measurement of PO2 as compared with the values of the fetal blood analysis was also quite accurate (r = 0.83, P < 0.001). Looking at the values of the transcutaneous measurement during the expulsion of the fetus and its comparison with the values of the umbilical artery, values of the transcutaneous estimation of PO2 were much lower in some cases and no statistical correlation was found (P > 0.05). The combined electrochemical sensor for measuring tcPCO2 and tcPO2 is a new additional tool for studying the physiology and pathophysiology of the fetus during labor, but, as the accuracy of PO2 and PCO2 in the fetal blood is influenced by the progress of labor, the special characteristic of the transcutaneous measurement must be taken into account when values are interpreted.