Early detection of shock in critically ill patients by skeletal muscle PO2 assessment

Abstract

The usefulness of skeletal muscle PO2 assessment in monitoring patients at risk of shock was evaluated in 20 critically ill patients. A shock score, inotropic score, and combined inotropic-shock score were calculated. If the median skeletal muscle PO2 assessment was more than 31.5 mm Hg, no shock occurred in the period from 4 hours before to 6 hours after the measurement. The risk of shock occurring during the first 2 hours after the skeletal muscle PO2 assessment was 2.2 times higher if median skeletal muscle PO2 assessment was below 22.5 mm Hg. If inotropes were administered, no significant difference was found in the incidence of shock if skeletal muscle PO2 was below or above 22.5 mm Hg. Skeletal muscle PO2 assessment enables the determination of the severity of shock and determination of risk of shock in critically ill patients, provided no treatment with inotropes has been instituted.