Pulse Oximeters : Part 2

Is a pulse oximeter always reliable?

No, there are times when a Pulse Oximetry is not accurate in the following situations:

1.Individuals in shock who are vasoconstricted and have no
pulse generally cannot be monitored by pulse Oximetry. Other
conditions where the pulse may be absent or very faint include
severe dehydration, heart failure, excessive hemorrhage, peripheral
vascular disease, many collagen vascular disorders and other heart
disorders
2.Occasionally bright white lights in hospital rooms can interfere
with accuracy of the oximeter. The numbers may be amplified.
3.The oximeter is sometimes affected by the use of electrocautery
in the operating room. Other medical equipment that can interfere
with the pulse oximeter includes laser beams, ultrasonic devices
and certain types of electronic hardware.
4.Individuals who are shivering or have a persistent tremor often
give unreliable oximeter reading
5.Nail varnish/polish can also cause erroneously low readings.

What are normal pulse oximeter readings?

In general, pulse oxygen saturation in healthy individuals should be above 95% and above. In patients with lung or heart disease, the oxygen saturation may be lower. When the pulse oximeter reads less than 88%, the individual will definitely show difficulty with breathing and may appear out of breaths.

Are pulse oximeters reliable?

Pulse Oximeters available today are very sensitive and reliable. The degree of accuracy has led to their widespread use not only in the hospital setting, but also for use in emergency rooms, out patients medical centers, ambulatory care medicine, outpatient or walk in clinics and even at home.

What is cost of a pulse oximeter?

Advances in Oximetry have now led to the development of devices which can also measure the levels of carbon dioxide at the skin level. The pulse oximeter had been of a tremendous advance in medicine and serves as a vital tool for monitoring the oxygen status of an individual. The cost of pulse Oximetry device is variable depending on the type one wants. The price ranges from $170-$950

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