Transcutaneous pO₂ monitoring in the pediatric intensive care unit

COMPARISON OF TRANSCUTANEOUS PCO₂ AND PO₂ MEASUREMENTS WITH ARTERIAL BLOOD GAS ANALYSIS IN PEDIATRIC INTENSIVE CARE PATIENTS: IS TRANSCUTANEOUS pO₂ A RELIABLE ALTERNATIVE?

Observational Istanbul Medeniyet University · NCT07478380

We will test whether noninvasive skin sensors that measure oxygen and carbon dioxide give similar results to arterial blood gases in children in the PICU.

Quick facts

Study typeObservational
Enrollment50 (estimated)
Ages1 Month to 18 Years
SexAll
SponsorIstanbul Medeniyet University Academic / other
Locations1 site (Istanbul, Kadıkoy)
Trial IDNCT07478380 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This is an observational cohort study that collects paired transcutaneous and arterial blood gas measurements from PICU patients who already have arterial lines in place. Paired readings are obtained simultaneously during routine clinical care to minimize timing differences. Agreement between transcutaneous pO₂/pCO₂ and arterial PaO₂/PaCO₂ will be analyzed using correlation and Bland-Altman methods to quantify bias and limits of agreement. The focus is whether transcutaneous pO₂ can reliably substitute for invasive arterial sampling in critically ill children.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Children aged 1 month to 18 years admitted to the PICU who have an arterial catheter and can tolerate transcutaneous sensor placement while hemodynamically stable are ideal candidates.

Not a fit: Children with severe skin disease or burns at sensor sites, severe peripheral perfusion impairment or high-dose vasopressor support, or those lacking paired arterial sampling are unlikely to benefit.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If reliable, transcutaneous monitoring could reduce painful arterial blood draws and provide continuous, noninvasive oxygen and CO2 monitoring for PICU patients.

How similar studies have performed: Prior work in neonates and stable pediatric populations shows mixed accuracy for transcutaneous pO₂/pCO₂ and data in critically ill children are limited and inconsistent.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* Age between 1 month and 18 years
* Admission to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU)
* Presence of an arterial catheter allowing arterial blood gas (ABG) sampling
* Simultaneous or paired transcutaneous pCO₂ and pO₂ monitoring available
* Hemodynamically stable at the time of measurement

Exclusion Criteria:

* Severe skin disease, burns, or local skin infection at the transcutaneous sensor site
* Severe peripheral perfusion impairment (e.g., refractory shock or high-dose vasopressor support)
* Congenital or acquired conditions interfering with accurate transcutaneous measurements
* Technical failure or inability to obtain reliable transcutaneous readings
* Missing or incomplete paired ABG-transcutaneous measurement data

Where this trial is running

Istanbul, Kadıkoy

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Pediatric Critical IllnessPediatric Intensive Care UnitTranscutaneous MonitoringArterial Blood GasNoninvasive Monitoring
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.