A pilot study of neonatal and pediatric esophageal pulse oximetry.

BACKGROUND In this pilot study we explored the suitability of the esophagus as a new measuring site for blood oxygen saturation (Spo(2)) in neonates. METHODS A new miniaturized esophageal pulse oximeter has been developed. Five patients (one child and four neonates) were studied. RESULTS Spo(2) values were obtained in the esophagus of all patients. A Bland and Altman plot of the difference between Spo(2) values from the esophageal pulse oximeter and a commercial toe pulse oximeter against their mean showed that the bias and the limits of agreement between the two pulse oximeters were +0.3% and +1.7% to -1.0%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS This study suggests that the esophagus can be used as an alternative site for monitoring blood oxygen saturation in children and neonates.