Percutaneous microsensing of muscle pH during shock and resuscitation

Muscle pH was monitored continuously during hypovolemic shock and during resuscitation in beagles, using a disposable, newly developed, flexible pH sensor that can be implanted percutaneously. The results demonstrate that muscle pH is superior to arterial or venous blood gases or pH as an index of peripheral tissue perfusion. The continuous nature of the pH monitoring is important, because it is the rate of change of peripheral muscle pH, rather than its absolute value, that is the measure of deterioration or improvement in perfusion status.