Continuous monitoring of mixed venous saturation (SvO2): an adjunct to nursing assessment?

Technological advances in oximetry have enabled the development of a pulmonary artery catheter which allows the continuous monitoring of a patient's mixed venous oxygen saturation (SvO2), which is recognised as a valuable indication of cardiac output and the balance between oxygen supply and demand (delivery and consumption). This paper briefly explains the rationale for monitoring SvO2 and highlights possible areas where the data it provides could influence the assessment and implementation of nursing interventions undertaken within intensive care units, and enable those decisions to be made more safely.