All issues > Volume 33(4); 1990

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1990;33(4):448-455. Published online April 30, 1990.

Effect of Position Change on TcPO2 in the Newborns.

Young Pyo Chang¹, Yong Joon Shin¹, Myoung Jae Choey¹, Beyong Il Kim¹, Jung Hwan Choi¹, Chong Ku Yun¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea

Received: September 19, 1989;  Accepted: September 19, 1989.

Abstract

To determine the optimal position for the neonatal intensive care, transcutaneous oxygen tension (TCPO2) was monitored in 20 healthy preterm infants and 20 healthy term infants using the Radiometer Tc Oxgen Monitor in both supine and prone position. Also, transcutaneous oxygen tension (TcPO2) was monitored with tilting change in each position. When the infants were prone, TcPO2 rose by a mean of 7.36 mmHg (p<0.05), an increase of 11% in the preterm infants and by a mean of 7.7 mmHg (p<0.05), an increase of 12% in the term infants. And TCPO2 on 20 degree head-up tilt in the prone position was increased by a mean of 3.13 mmHg (p< 0.05) and 4,69 mmHg (p<0.05) in the term infants and the preterm infants respectively. In the supine position TCPO2 on 20 degree head-up tilt was increased by a mean of 3.07 mmHg (p<0.05) and 4.30 mmHg (p<0,05) in the term infants and the preterm infants respectively. Also, 20 degree head-down tilts were associated with an equivalent fall in the TcPO2. These higher TcPO2 were directly associated with an improvement of PaO2 and these improved oxygenation in the prone poition and head-up tilts appear to be the result of enhanced vetilation- pefusion ratios and a significant decrease in the amount of time the chest wall moved asynchronously. These findings may have the important implifications in the neonatal intensive care.

Keywords :TCPO2, Newborn, Position Change