Transcutaneous pO₂ Monitoring in PICU

Arterial blood gas analysis is commonly used in pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) to assess oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in critically ill children. However, arterial blood sampling is invasive, can be painful, and may need to be repeated frequently. Transcutaneous monitoring provides a noninvasive method to continuously measure oxygen (pO₂) and carbon dioxide (pCO₂) levels through the skin, but its accuracy in critically ill pediatric patients requires further evaluation. The purpose of this observational study is to compare transcutaneous pO₂ and pCO₂ measurements with arterial blood gas values in pediatric intensive care unit patients. By analyzing paired measurements obtained simultaneously during routine clinical care, this study aims to evaluate the agreement between transcutaneous and arterial measurements, with a particular focus on whether transcutaneous pO₂ can serve as a reliable alternative to arterial sampling. The results of this study may help clarify the role of transcutaneous monitoring in pediatric intensive care and may contribute to reducing the need for invasive blood sampling in selected patients.