We reviewed the use of advanced display technologies for monitoring in anesthesia. Researchers are investigating displays that integrate information and that, in some cases, also deliver the results continuously to the anesthesiologist. Integrated visual displays reveal higher-order properties of patient state and speed in responding to events, but their benefits under an intensely timeshared l...

This pilot investigation was undertaken to assess the performance of a novel fiber-optic cerebral pulse oximetry system. A fiber-optic probe designed to pass through the lumen of a cranial bolt of the type used to make intracranial pressure measurements was used to obtain optical reflectance signals directly from the brain tissue. Preliminary results from seven patients measured in the operatin...

BACKGROUND Routine monitoring of postoperative patients with pulse oximetry-based surveillance monitoring has been shown to reduce adverse events. However, there is some concern that pulse oximetry is limited in its ability to detect deterioration quickly enough to allow for intervention in patients receiving supplemental oxygen. To address such concerns, this study expands on the current limit...

The technical standard reports that one of the reasons that should lead the examiner to stop the 6MWT is a fall in pulse oximetry oxygen saturation (SpO2) to <80% and suggests resuming the test after the SpO2 recovers to >85%. This suggestion is based on a single study only [3] that reports instruction to resume walking if SpO2 rises above 80% (and not 85%), citing these two documents: “ATS sta...

BACKGROUND Overnight pulse oximetry is commonly used for hypoxemia evaluation in patients with COPD and sleep-disordered breathing. There is little information regarding its impact on physician decision making, and therefore an important measure of its clinical utility is untested and unknown. The aim of this study was to describe physician interpretation, use, and opinions regarding overnight ...

AIM To compare pulse oximetry in children with sickle cell anaemia (SCA) and controls and test the hypothesis that vitamin C deficiency (VCD; <11.4 μmol/L) is associated with nocturnal haemoglobin oxygen desaturation in SCA. METHODS We undertook nocturnal and daytime pulse oximetry in 23 children with SCA (median age 8 years) with known steady-state plasma vitamin C concentrations and 18 sibl...

BACKGROUND Traumatic brain injury is a major cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. It can be worsened by secondary injury particularly with hypoxia or hypotension. Current prehospital guidelines emphasise regular measurement of peripheral oxygen saturation and blood pressure but there is no monitor in use to provide direct information relating to blood flow or oxygen delivery to the brain...

Introduction There is no doubt that pulse oximetry represents the greatest advance in patient monitoring in many years. It has the unique advantage of continuously monitoring the saturation of hemoglobin with oxygen, easily and noninvasively, providing a measure of cardio-respiratory function. By virtue of its ability to quickly detect hypoxaemia, it has become the standard of care during anaes...

One hundred children with normal maxillary central and lateral incisors were subjected to vitality tests each by electrical and pulse oximetry. As a control population to confirm the readings, 10 known nonvital anterior teeth with complete endodontic fillings were tested. The systemic oxygen saturation values measured on the index finger of the patient served as the control for the comparison o...