[Determination of the viability of skin regions in danger of necrosis by means of transcutaneous polarographic measurement of oxygen pressure].

In 8 patients the method of transcutaneous pO2-monitoring, developed by Huch and Lübbers, is applied for the determination of the viability of ischemic skin areas of the transplant. Its usefulness is proven. The problem of arterial and tissue pO2-monitoring is explained. According to our experiences of about 6 months this qualitative method seems to be useful in plastic surgery. An important possibility to apply the transcutaneous pO2-monitoring is the postoperative control of free skin flaps transplanted by microvascular anastomoses to indicate early enough the beginning tissue hypoxia by a warning system. Further results with the method shall be reported.