SjvO₂Monitoring in Head-Injured Patients

Jugular venous oxygen saturation (SjvO2) measures the balance between cerebral oxygen delivery and cerebral oxygen consumption. Abnormalities that increase oxygen consumption (e.g., fever or seizures) or that decrease oxygen delivery (e.g., increased ICP, hypotension, hypoxia, hypocapnia, or anemia) can decrease SjvO2. Measuring SjvO2 continuously in the ICU in 177 patients with severe head injury, jugular venous desaturation (SjvO2 < 50%) was...