Continuous Measurement of Central Venous Oxygen Saturation in Critically Ill Patients

gy allows critical care practitioners to continuously monitor and evaluate tissue oxygenation at the bedside by using a fiberoptic pulmonary artery catheter that measures mixed venous oxygen saturation (S–vO2). Placement of a pulmonary artery catheter to measure S–vO2 may not always be feasible early in resuscitation or outside the intensive care unit (ICU). A new technology that uses a modified central venous catheter with fiberoptic technology has recently been introduced into clinical practice. It is now being used before, or as an alternative to, placement of a pulmonary artery catheter. This new catheter measures central venous oxygen saturation (ScvO2), which has been shown to trend with S–vO2. ScvO2 provides clinicians with a real-time, continuous parameter for evaluating tissue oxygenation at the bedside. Similar to continuous S–vO2, ScvO2 monitoring enables early warning and surveillance for changes in a patient’s ability to provide sufficient oxygen to meet metabolic demands. ScvO2 monitoring also provides immediate feedback on the effectiveness of therapies. The purpose of this article is to introduce critical care practitioners to this new technology that enables tissue oxygenation to be evaluated at the bedside.