Fetal well-being depends on the level of oxygenation in vital organs such as the heart and brain. In this review, we discuss the physiological parameters which underlie the use of pulse oximetry to evaluate fetal conditions intrapartum. Whilst the measurement of haemoglobin oxygen saturation (SaO2) depends on partial pressure of oxygen (PO2), the relation is alinear, is relatively insensitive t...

Present methods of assessing pulp vitality (electric and thermal testing) are of limited use with children, often resulting in false positive or false negative results. Pulse oximetry is a proven, atraumatic method of measuring vascular health by evaluating oxygen saturation (SaO2). This pilot study explores the use of a modified pulse oximetry ear probe to assess pulpal vascular oxygen saturat...

INTRODUCTION Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is the most serious consequence of adenotonsillar hypertrophy (ATH). The gold standard diagnostic method is polysomnography (PSG) with nocturnal oximetry, but it requires expensive equipment, the presence of a technician and a specialized doctor, and is very time consuming, making the procedure difficult. The recording of pulse oximetry monit...

In reviewing the article “Methemoglobinemia: Sudden Dyspnea and Oxygen Desaturation After Esophagoduodenoscopy,” in the August 2004 issue of RESPIRATORY CARE,1 I found the article suggested that, during the esophagoduodenoscopy procedure the patient’s blood oxygen saturation (measured via pulse oximetry) began to drop rapidly, and a saturation of 54% registered on the pulse oximeter while the p...

Complex respiratory events, which may have a detrimental effect on both quality of sleep and control of nocturnal hypoventilation, occur during sleep in patients treated with non-invasive ventilation (NIV). Among these events are patient-ventilator asynchrony, increases in upper airway resistance (with or without increased respiratory drive) and leaks. Detection of these events is important in ...

The causes of hypoxaemia in children include the commonest causes of childhood illness: pneumonia and other acute respiratory infections, and neonatal illness, particularly sepsis, low birthweight, birth asphyxia and aspiration syndromes. The systematic use of pulse oximetry to monitor and treat children in resource-poor developing countries, when coupled with a reliable oxygen supply, improves...

Assessment of oxyhemoglobin saturation in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) is vital for prompt recognition of hypoxemia. The accuracy of pulse oximeter measurements of blood oxygenation in SCD patients is variable, partially due to carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) and methemoglobin (MetHb), which decrease the oxygen content of blood. This study evaluated the accuracy and reliability of a non-inv...

Pulse oximetry (Spo2) is a simple, noninvasive method that is widely used to determine oxygen saturation in patients undergoing surgical procedures. Artificial acrylic nails have recently become fashionable to strengthen and lengthen nails. This study investigates the effect of unpolished acrylic nails on the measurement of oxygen saturation by pulse oximetry. Data were collected during a 3-mon...

Pulse oximetry is as a non-invasive photometric technique that provides non-invasively information about the global arterial blood oxygen saturation (SpO2 ) and heart rate, and has widespread clinical applications. This can be made possible via the peripheral pulse oximetry probes mainly attached to the finger, toe or earlobe. However, there is a need for monitoring perfusion on a more regional...

The use of supplemental oxygen plays a vital role in the care of the critically ill preterm infant, but the unrestricted use of oxygen can lead to unintended harms, such as chronic lung disease and retinopathy of prematurity. An overly restricted use of supplemental oxygen may have adverse effects as well. Ideally, continuous monitoring of tissue and cellular oxygen delivery would allow clinici...