Transcutaneous Po2 monitoring in the home management of bronchopulmonary dysplasia

Despite recent advances in the treatment of respiratory distress syndrome and other pulmonary disorders, many infants in the United States develop a chronic lung disorder usually designated bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Management of this disorder frequently requires prolonged hospitalization. However, home management has recently been proposed.1 Transcutaneous Po2 (tcPo2) has been shown to correlate closely with Pao2, in well newborns2 and in sick newborns3-4 in all but a few unusual clinical situations. Reports to date have been concerned with tcPo2 monitoring in acutely ill infants.