Pulse Oximetry: The Fifth Vital Sign of Neonates

Pulse oximetry as a fifth pediatric vital sign.

PURPOSE To determine the utility of pulse oximetry as a routine fifth vital sign in acute pediatric assessment. DESIGN Prospective study using pulse oximetry to measure oxygen saturation in children presenting to emergency department triage. Saturation values were disclosed to clinicians only after they had completed medical evaluations and were ready to discharge or admit each child. We meas...

The ‘fifth vital sign’

Pain is one of the most common symptoms, regardless of the specialty in which a patient is being treated. It should be routinely evaluated and recorded in daily clinical examination. In fact, pain has been promulgated as the ‘fifth vital sign’, in addition to the four traditional vital signs of temperature, pulse, blood pressure, and respiratory rate. As well as improving patient comfort and sa...

Vital-Sign Monitoring Using Pulse Oximetry for Automated Triage and the Prediction of Patient Deterioration

Motion resistant pulse oximetry in neonates.

BACKGROUND Pulse oximetry is widely used in neonates. However, its reliability is often affected by motion artefact. Clinicians confronted with questionable oxygen saturation (SpO(2)) values often estimate the reliability by correlating heart rate (HR) obtained with the oximeter with that obtained by electrocardiogram. OBJECTIVE To compare the effects of motion on SpO(2) and HR measurements m...

The Role of Pulse Oximetry in Resuscitation of Asphyxiated Neonates

Pulse oximetry has emerged as a convenient and readily available tool for monitoring of resuscitation. This study was done to evaluate the ability of the pulse oximetry to record oxygen saturation of asphyxiated neonates as well to note serial changes in oxygen saturation during their resuscitation. The main outcome was time taken to reach 90% saturation as recorded by pulse oximeter. The other...