Background: Central venous oxygen saturation (ScvO2) measurement is a safe and efficient alternative for mixed venous oxygen saturation (SvO2) as an indirect estimate for global tissue oxygenation. The normal range of SvO2, which reflects the balance between O2 delivery and demands, is 65 to 75%
Objectives: This study was designed to determine the predictive role of central venous oxygen saturation (ScvO2) in acute type I respiratory failure patients admitted to the pulmonary critical care unit.
Patients and Methods: The study included patients with acute type I respiratory failure patients admitted to the pulmonary critical care unit, Mansoura University Hospitals during the period between August 2015 to December 2015. Central venous blood was withdrawn through a central venous catheter placed via a subclavian approach and advanced to the right atrium as confirmed by post insertion chest x-ray. Samples for ScvO2 were taken on admission and at the 3rd and 7th day.
Results: 62 patients (51.6% males) were included with a mean age of 60 years old. Low ScvO2 on admission was associated with increased risk of mortality as did persistent low ScvO2 values on 3rd and 7th day (P value 0.001, 0.001 and 0.03 respectively). We calculated cutoff points for ScvO2 for predicting mortality on admission and at the 3rd and 7th day to be 65%, 70% and 66% respectively (P value 0.0008, 0.04 and 0.04 respectively).
Conclusion: This study showed that ScvO2 has a role in predicting mortality in critical care patients presented with acute type I respiratory failure patients and improving ScvO2 is associated with improving the outcome in such patients, thus justifying the need for a comprehensive and integrating therapeutic approach.