Abstract 1251

Introduction. Disorders of oxygenation and ventilation are common in premature neonates and rapid assessment of the infant's respiratory status is essential for survival.

Purpose: We examined whether the bedside SensiCath® Blood Gas Monitoring System (manufactured by Optical Sensors Incorporated, Minneapolis, Minneapolis, MN) could reduce both blood loss and the time needed to make ventilator setting changes in a population of very low birth weight (VLBW, < 1500 gm) infants.

Methods: The access tubing to the bedside SensiCath was modified to permit near zero blood loss following each ABG sampling. A prospective, group sample trial was conducted on ventilator-dependent newly born VLBW infants. The trial was unblinded due to the nature of the device and parental consent was obtained before study enrollment. A total of 11 SensiCath patients and their controls were studied. Data were analyzed with either parametric or non-parametric (Wilcoxon Signed-Rank) tests where appropriate.

Results: There was no differences (mean±SD) between the SensiCath group and controls with respect to birth weight (861±236gm vr. 853±227gm), gestational age (25.2 ±1.9 weeks vr. 26.6 ±2.8 weeks), pH (7.35 ±0.09 vr. 7.35 ±0.08), PCO2 (40.8 ±13.7 vr. 43.3 ±10.0), PO2 (78.5 ±42.7 vr. 82.8 ±42.0) or Apgars at one and five minutes (medians 3 and 7, both groups). The amount of blood loss/kg body weight associated with ABG measurement alone was less in the SensiCath group compared to controls group (1.5 ±0.5 ml vrs. 10.0 ±4.2ml, P<0.001) but there was no significant difference between each group in the amount of blood transfused. Total blood loss from all sources was in the SensiCath group similar to controls (15.1 ±5.4 ml vr 18.7 ±6.3ml, P=0.17). The time to obtain ABG results and to make a ventilator change was shorter in the SensiCath group compared to controls (2±min vs 25 ±22 min, P<0.001).

Conclusion: Use of the modified SensiCath monitoring system permits near zero blood loss and greatly reduces the time needed to make ventilator management decisions.

Supported by Optical Sensor Inc. and the Duke Neonatal-Perinatal Research Institute