Transcutaneous versus blood CO2 monitoring in critically ill children
Comparison of Transcutaneous Carbon Dioxide Monitoring With Arterialized or Arterial Blood Gas Analysis in PICU
This project tests whether noninvasive transcutaneous CO2 monitoring gives similar results to arterial blood gas CO2 measurements in children aged 1–18 with respiratory insufficiency in the pediatric ICU, including those on vasopressors.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Enrollment | 20 (estimated) |
| Ages | 1 Year to 18 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Brno University Hospital Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Brno) |
| Trial ID | NCT07468006 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This is a prospective observational study in a pediatric intensive care unit comparing paired transcutaneous CO2 (tPCO2) readings with arterialized or arterial blood gas PaCO2 values in children aged 1–18 with respiratory insufficiency. Paired measurements will be analyzed using Bland–Altman methods with correction for repeated measures to quantify agreement. Subgroup analyses will examine the effect of vasopressor therapy and peripheral perfusion on tPCO2 accuracy, and secondary analyses will compare transcutaneous and arterial oxygen measurements (tPO2 vs PaO2). The goal is to define when transcutaneous capnometry can be used reliably and what its limitations are in critically ill pediatric patients.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are children aged 1–18 admitted to the PICU with respiratory insufficiency who are expected to need more than one arterialized capillary or arterial blood gas sample, including those receiving vasopressor support.
Not a fit: Patients with repeated sensor adhesion failure, hypothermia (<35 °C), large recent tPCO2 variability, or non‑physiological tPCO2 values are unlikely to benefit from transcutaneous monitoring in this context.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, reliable transcutaneous CO2 monitoring could reduce painful arterial blood draws and provide continuous real‑time ventilation information for critically ill children.
How similar studies have performed: Previous adult and neonatal work has shown reasonable correlation for transcutaneous capnometry in stable settings, but accuracy is known to decline with poor perfusion or vasopressor use and is less well validated in critically ill pediatric patients.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Age 1-18 years * Diagnosis of respiratory insufficiency or impaired peripheral perfusion * Expected need for more than one arterialized capillary or arterial blood gas sample * Admission to PICU Exclusion Criteria: * Repeated failure of sensor adhesion * Hypothermia \< 35 °C * Time difference \> ±5 minutes between tPCO₂ and blood sampling * Large tPCO₂ variability (\> ±1 kPa) in 15 minutes preceding blood sampling * Non-physiological tPCO₂ values incompatible with life
Where this trial is running
Brno
- University Hospital Brno — Brno, Czechia (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Hana Harazim, MD, PhD
- Email: hana.harazim@gmail.com
- Phone: +420777146704
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.