Open AccessSubcutaneous tissue oxygen and carbon dioxide tensions during hyperbaric oxygenation: an experimental study in rats
Author(s) -
Korhonen Kimmo,
Kuttila Kari,
Niinikoski Juha
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
european journal of surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1741-9271
pISSN - 1102-4151
DOI - 10.1080/11024159950189401
Subject(s) - silastic , medicine , subcutaneous tissue , pco2 , carbon dioxide , anesthesia , oxygen , hyperbaric oxygenation , oxygenation , hyperbaric oxygen , room air distribution , breathing gas , surgery , breathing , chemistry , physics , organic chemistry , thermodynamics
Objective: To investigate the response of subcutaneous tissue oxygen (O 2 ) and carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) tensions to hyperbaric oxygenation. Design: Experimental study. Setting: University hospital, Finland. Subjects: 10 Wistar rats. Intervention: Subcutaneous tissue PO 2 and PCO 2 were directly measured with an implanted Silastic tube tonometer and capillary sampling technique while breathing air and exposed to hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) at 2.5 or 2.8 ATA pressure. Hyperbaric exposures were carried out in a large multiplace chamber pressurised with air. Main outcome measures: Subcutaneous tissue PO 2 and PCO 2 . Results: The mean subcutaneous PO 2 rose from the baseline of 8 kPa (60 mmHg) to 16 kPa (112 mmHg) when rats breathed room air during pressurisation to 2.8 atm. When the rats breathed oxygen at 2.5 ATA the maximal mean tissue PO 2 was four times higher than the mean starting value. During the HBO treatment at 2.8 ATA the tissue PO 2 rose to a value about five times above baseline. The tissue PCO 2 values almost doubled during the exposure to HBO at 2.5 ATA, probably because elimination of carbon dioxide was impaired. Conclusion: Measurements of tissue PO 2 and PCO 2 with an implanted Silastic tonometer and a capillary sampling technique can successfully be adapted to hyperbaric conditions. The method yielded reproducible results and is applicable to clinical use in hyperbaric medicine. Copyright © 1999 Taylor and Francis Ltd.