Gastric and Colonic Oxygen Tension Measured with a Vacuum-Fixed Oxygen Electrode

A new electrode system for determination of visceral oxygen tension is presented. The system consists of a transcutaneous oxygen electrode (E5242 Radiometer A/S, Copenhagen), which is screwed into a suction ring and fixed to the organ by applying a vacuum. The electrode membrane is then in contact with the organ surface via a fluid layer with a thickness of a few micrometers, without interference from atmospheric air and without mechanical disturbance of the membrane. The electrode system was tested on the gastric and colonic wall in six pigs. As reference, a silicone tonometer was placed subserously beneath the vacuum-fixed electrode. The silicone tonometer was connected to a second transcutaneous oxygen electrode. The tissue oxygen tension was changed by subjecting the animals to various inspiratory concentrations of oxygen and to hypovolaemia. The oxygen tension measured by the vacuum-fixed electrode (Po2vac) was compared with the oxygen tension measured by the tonometer (Po2tono). A good correlation was demonstrated between Po2vac and Po2tono, the correlation coefficient being 0.8619, confirming that the suction-fixed oxygen electrode measures tissue oxygen. The lowest possible vacuum to hold the electrode unit in place was between 4.0 and 6.7 kPa. Provided the measuring time did not exceed 3 min, vacuum had only slight influence on the measured oxygen values. The mean change in Po2vac induced by varying the vacuum from 7 to 26 kPa, and 26 to 7 kPa, was only + 0.23 kPa (-1.2 to + 1.9) and + 0.19 kPa (-0.3 to + 1.3), respectively. The mean stabilization time, defined as the time from electrode application until achieving 95% of the equilibration value, was 66 sec (SEM, 3.4 sec) and 57 sec (SEM, 3.0 sec) on the gastric and colonic wall, respectively. The measured values of Po2vac varied significantly between different areas on the gastric wall (p < 0.001). When several surface measurements were performed throughout the investigated area, the mean oxygen tension approached the oxygen tension measured by the tonometer. It is concluded that the vacuum-fixed electrode constitutes a reliable, easy and, non-invasive method for measurements of the oxygen tension in the gastric and colonic tissue.