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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Pulse Oximeters : Part 1

What is Oximetry?

Oximetry is a simple non invasive medical procedure used to measure the concentration of oxygen in the blood. Oximetry is widely used in the hospital care setting to assess patients who have a variety of lung and heart disorders. The measurement of oxygen is done by an oximeter which is a photoelectric device. The majority of Oximeters are small, portable and reusable. Many home devices can be run on batteries.

Where is a pulse oximeter placed on the body?

The oximeter can be placed on the finger tip, ear lobe or toes. Pulse Oximeters are so called because they react only to pulsations of the blood vessels. If there is no pulse, Oximeters will not pick up the pulsations and oxygen concentration cannot be obtained.

Pulse Oximeters are used in all intensive care units, the neonatal unit, coronary care unit, emergency room and during anesthesia. Portable Oximeters are now widely used on the regular medical floors in hospitals across America. The majority of patients who have emphysema, COPD or congestive heart failure are monitored by pulse Oximetry in the hospital.

How does a pulse oximeter work?

The pulse Oximeters work by transmitting a beam of red and infrared light though a pulsating blood vessel. The ratio of red to infra red blood light transmitted provides a measure of the oxygen saturation of the blood. The oximeter identifies the pulse and then deducts the intensity of color perceived when the pulse is absent. The residual intensity of color corresponds to only the oxygenated red blood. This is shown on the electronic screen as a percentage of oxygen saturation in the blood.