Comparison of combined oximetry and cutaneous capnography using a digital sensor with arterial blood gas analysis.

AbstractBackground: Cutaneous carbon dioxide tension (PcCO2) is a promising non-invasive surrogate measure of arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2). Objectives: To compare values of PcCO2 and oxygen saturation (SpO2) with arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis. Methods: SpO2 and PcCO2 were measured with a v-Sign™-sensor (Sentec AG, Therwil, Switzerland) and the values compared with simultaneously obtained SaO2 and PaCO2 obtained from ABG analysis (ABL 725, Radiometer, Copenhagen, Denmark) in 275 adult patients referred to the lung function laboratory. Results: Median of the PcCO2 was 4.7 kPa (interquartile range [IQR] 0.9 kPa). Median of the SpO2 was 97% (IQR 3%). Bland-Altman analysis for comparison of PcCO2 with PaCO2 showed a bias of −0.1 kPa with a precision of ± 0.9 kPa with 3.7% outlying values. Bland-Altman analysis for the comparison of SpO2 and SaO2 showed a bias of 20.1 % with a precision of ± 3.5%. There were no complications. Conclusion: There is a good agreement between combined cuta...