An Eye Oximeter for Combat Casualty Care
Abstract
A noninvasive, rapidly applicable technique that provides a reliable index of oxygen delivery during shock resuscitation would be a valuable adjunct to patient management. Subject: The team at UAB and UAH is generating instrumentation and scientific data suggesting that retinal vessel oxygen saturations (both arterial and venous) may be used to identify bleeding prior to changes in vital signs and to help optimize oxygen delivery during the resuscitation of trauma victims. Purpose: The purpose of this work is to development a noninvasive tool for measuring a hemodynamic parameter to aid in the triage and treatment of combat casualties who may be bleeding or have bled substantially. Scope: The scope of this work includes the investigation of the optical properties of the retina and developing the techniques required to accurately measure retinal large vessel oxygen saturations. As this work is being accomplished we have used models of blood loss to demonstrate the potential efficacy of this measurement in the evaluation and treatment of combat casualties. We have constructed Eye Oximeters (EOX) for measuring the oxygen saturation of blood in retinal veins and arteries. We have found that absolute calibration of the measurement in yorkshire swine is problematic secondary to back reflections and pigment variations in the retina. In order to demonstrate the correlation between retinal venous oxygen saturation, cardiac output and mixed venous oxygen saturation, we have identified a subspecies of swine, the sinclair swine, which has no pigmentation in the retina. The EOX has been used in Sinclair swine studies to demonstrate proof of concept. Retinal venous oxygen saturation correlates with cardiac output and mixed venous oxygen saturation during profound blood loss and subsequent resuscitation.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1999
- Accession Number
- ADA388210
Entities
People
- Kurt Denninghoff
Organizations
- University of Alabama