Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Advantages and Limitations of Pulse Oximetry

  • Conference paper
Book cover Clinical Aspects of O2 Transport and Tissue Oxygenation

Abstract

Acute hypoxemia is the most serious threat to human life. The pulmonary and cardiovascular system are at the center of oxygen uptake and transport. Every major disease of these organ systems may result in hypoxemia and hypoxia. Many diagnostic and therapeutic measures may also affect the continuous and adequate oxygen supply to the organs. Artificial respiration during anesthesia and in intensive care medicine represents a special danger. Monitoring of oxygenation is therefore at the center of the physician’s thoughts and actions.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Alexander JP, Barron DW (1979) Biochemical disturbances associated with total hip replacement. J Bone Joint Surg [Br] 61:101–106

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Asari M, Kenmotsu O (1977) Application of a pulse-type earpiece oximeter in the field of anesthesiology. Jpn J Anesthesiol 26:205–207

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Barker SJ, Tremper KK (1987) The effect of carbon monoxide inhalation on pulse oximetry and transcutaneous PO2 Anesthesiology 66:677–679

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Barker SJ, Tremper KK, Hyatt J, Zaccari J (1987) Effects of methemoglobinemia on pulse oximetry and mixed venous oximetry. Anesthesiology 67:A171

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Berge KH, Lanier WL, Scanion PD (1988) Ischemic digital skin necrosis: a compli cation of the reusable Nelcor pulse oximeter probe (letter). Anesth Analg 67:712–713

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Berko RS, Kagle DM, Alexander CM, Giuffre M, Gross JB (1988) Evaluation of the Ohmeda 3700 pulse oximeter during rapid changes in arterial oxygen saturation. Anesthesiology 65:A130

    Google Scholar 

  7. Block FE (1987) Interference in a pulse oximeter from a fiberoptic light source. J Clin Monit 3:210–211

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Boxer RA, Gottesfeld I, Sigh S, LaCorte MA, Parnell VA, Walker P (1987) Noninvasive pulse oximetry in children with cyanotic congenital heart disease. Crit Care Med 15:1062–1064

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Brodsky JB, Shulman MS, Swan M, Mark JBD (1985) Pulse oximetry during onelung ventilation. Anesthesiology 63:212–214

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Brooks TD, Paulus DA, Winkle WE (1984) Infrared heat lamps interfere with pulse oximeters. Anesthesiology 61:630

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Byrick RJ, Forbes D, Waddell JP (1986) A monitored cardiovascular collapse during cemented total knee replacement. Anesthesiology 65:213–216

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Calaminus JM (1988) Pulsoximetrie. In: Boenick U, Schaldach M (ed) Biomedical Engeneering. Tutorial Polsoximetrie. Schiele and Schön, Berlin, pp 32–33 (Biomedizinische Technik, vol 33, suppl 3)

    Google Scholar 

  13. Comroe JH, Botelho S (1947) The unreliability of cyanosis in the recognition of arterial anoxemia. Am J Med Sci 214:1–6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Cooper JB, Newbower RS, Long CD, McPeek B (1978) Preventable anesthesia mishaps: a study of human factors. Anesthesiology 49:399–406

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Cooper JB, Newbower RS, Kitz RJ (1984) An analysis of major errors and equipment failures in anesthesia management: considerations for prevention and detection. Anesthesiology 60:34–42

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Coté CJ, Goldstein EA, Coté MA, Hoaglin DC, Ryan JF (1988) A single-blind study of pulse oximetry in children. Anesthesiology 68:184–188

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Coyle JP, Teplick RS, Long MC, Davison JK (1983) Respiratory variations in systemic arterial pressure as an indicator of volume status. Anesthesiology 59:A53

    Google Scholar 

  18. Craig DB (1981) Postoperative recovery of pulmonary function. Anesth Analg 60:46–52

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Durand M, Ramanathan R (1986) Pulse oximetry for continuous oxygen monitoring in sick newborn infants. J Pediatr 109:1052–1056

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Eberhard P, Mindt W (1977) Skin sensors for continuous oxygen monitoring of newborns. Biotelemetry 4:48–76

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Eberhard P, Mindt W, Schäfer R (1981) Cutaneous blood gas monitoring in the adult. Crit Care Med 9:702–705

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Eisenkraft JB (1988) Pulse oximeter desaturation due to methemoglobinemia. Anesthesiology 68:279–282

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Elling A, Hanning CD (1986) Oxygenation during postoperative transportation. In: Payne JP, Severinghaus JW (eds) Pulse oximetry. Springer, Heidelberg New York, pp 161–164

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  24. Fanconi S (1988) Reliability of pulse oximetry in hypoxic infants. J Pediatr 3:424–427

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Fanconi S, Doherty P, Edmonds JF, Barker GA, Bohn DJ (1985) Pulse oximetry in pediatric intensive care: comparison with measured saturations and transcutaneous oxygen tension. J Pediatr 107:362–366

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Fibuch EE, Rehder K, Sessler AD (1975) Preoperative CC/FRC ratio and postop erative hypoxemia. Anesthesiology 45:481–485

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Gabrielczyk MR, Buist RJ (1988) Pulse oximetry and postoperative hypothermia. Anesthesia 43:402–404

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Gormann ES, Shnider MR (1988) Effect of methylene blue on the absorbance of solutions of haemoglobin. Br J Anaesth 60:439–444

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Hanning CD (1985) “He looks a little blue down this end.” Monitoring oxygenation during anaesthesia. Br J Anaesth 57:359–360

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Hanowell L, Eisele JH, Downs D (1987) Ambient light affects pulse oximeters (correspondence). Anesthesiology 67:864–865

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Kagle DM, Berko RS, Alexander CM, Giuffre M, Gross JB (1986) Ohmeda biox 3700 pulse oximeters may give falsely low readings when used with finger probes. Anesthesiology 65:A129

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Kagle DM, Alexander CM, Berko RS, Giuffre M, Gross JB (1987) Evaluation of the Ohmeda 3700 pulse oximeter: steady-state and transient response characteristics. Anesthesiology 66:376–380

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Karna P, Poland RL (1978) Monitoring critically ill newborn infants with digital capillary blood samples: an alternative. J Pediatr 92:270–273

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Kessler MR, Eide T, Humayun B, Poppers PJ (1986) Spurious pulse oximeter desaturation with methylene blue pulse injection. Anesthesiology 65:435–436

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Koch G, Wendel H (1967) Comparison of ph, carbon dioxide tension, standard bicarbonate and oxygen tension in capillary blood and in arterial blood during the neonatal period. Acta Paediatr Scand 56:10–16

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Konietzke D, Leyser K-H, Lanz E (1985) Vergleichende Untersuchung mit Prilocain 2% bzw. Lidocain 2% jeweils mit Adrenalin zur Periduralanaesthesie. Regional-Anästhesie 8:67–72

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Kramer K (1935) Ein Verfahren zur fortlaufenden Messung des Sauerstoffgehaltes im strömenden Blute an uneröffneten Gefäßen. Z Biol (Munich) 96:61–75

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Lawson D, Norley I, Korbon G, Loeb R, Ellis J (1987) Bloodflow limits and pulse oximeter signal detection. Anesthesiology 67:599–603

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Lazell VA, Jopling MW (1987) Accuracy of pulse oximetry in cyanotic congenital heart disease. Anesthesiology 67:A169

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Lemke R, Klaus D (1986) Die Bedeutung der nicht-invasiven kontinuierlichen TcPO2 und TcPCO2-Messung bei kreislaufstabilen Patienten und bei Patienten im Schock. Intensivmed 23:22–26

    Google Scholar 

  41. Marian F, Spiss CK, Hiesmayr M, Draxler V (1985) Überwachung der fiberoptischen Intubation mittels nicht invasiver Pulsoximetrie. Anaesthesist 34:630–635

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Marshall BE, Wyche MQ (1972) Hypoxemia during and after anesthesia. Anesthesiology 37:178–209

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Matthes K (1935) Untersuchungen über die Sauerstoffsättigung des menschlichen Arterienblutes. Arch Exp Pathol Pharmakol 179:698–711

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Mendelson Y, Kent JC, Shahnarian A, Welch GW, Giasi RM (1988) Evaluation of datascope accusate pulse oximeter in healthy adults. J Clin Monit 4:59–63

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Mihm FG, Halperin BD (1985) Noninvasive detection of profound arterial desaturations using a pulse oximetry device. Anesthesiology 62:85–87

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Millikan GA (1942) The oximeter: an instrument for measuring continuously oxygen saturation of arterial blood in man. Rev Sci Instrum 13:434–444

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. Morgan BC, Crawford EW, Guntheroth WG (1969) The hemodynamic effects of changes in blood volume during intermittent positive-pressure ventilation. Anes thesiology 30:297–305

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  48. Morris RW, Buschman A, Warren DL, Philip JH, Raemer DB (1988) The prevalence of hypoxemia detected by pulse oximetry during recovery from anesthesia. J Clin Monit 4:16–20

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  49. Motoyama EK, Glazener CH (1986) Hypoxemia after general anesthesia in children. Anesth Analg 65:267–272

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  50. Niehoff J, DelGuercio C, LaMorte W, Hughes-Grasberger SL, Heard S, Dennis R, Yeston N (1988) Efficacy of pulse oximetry and capnometry in postoperative ventilatory weaning. Crit Care Med 16:701–705

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  51. Nunn JF, Payne JP (1962) Hypoxaemia after general anaesthesia. Lancet 11:631–632

    Article  Google Scholar 

  52. Perel A, Pizov R, Gross D, Cotev S (1986) The systemic blood pressure variation is a sensitive indicator of hypovolemia in ventilated dogs subjected to graded hemorrage. Crit Care Med 14:382

    Article  Google Scholar 

  53. Pologe JA (1987) Pulse oximetry: technical aspects of machine design. Int AnesthesiolClin 25(3):137–153

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  54. Powell JN, McGrath PJ, Lahiri SK, Hill P (1970) Cardiac arrest associated with bone cement. Br Med J 3:326

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  55. Raemer DB, Warren DL, Morris R, Philip BK, Philip JH (1987) Hypoxemia during ambulatory gynecologic surgery as evaluated by the pulse oximeter. J Clin Monit 3:244–248

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  56. Rinecker H (1980) New clinico-pathophysiological studies on the bone cement implantation syndrome. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 97:263–274

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  57. Rubin AS (1988) Nail polish color can affect pulse oximeter saturation. Anesthesiology 68:825

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  58. Sarnquist FH, Todd C, Whitcher C (1980) Accuracy of a new noninvasive oxygen saturation monitor. Anesthesiology 33:S163

    Article  Google Scholar 

  59. Scheller MS, Unger RJ, Keiner MJ (1986) Effects of intravenously administered dyes on pulse oximetry readings. Anesthesiology 65:550–552

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  60. Sendak MJ, Harris AP, Donham RT (1988) Accuracy of pulse oximetry during arterial oxyhemoglobin desaturation in dogs. Anesthesiology 68:111–114

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  61. Severinghaus JW, Honda Y (1987) History of blood gas analysis. VII. Pulse oximetry. J Clin Monit 3:135–138

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  62. Severinghaus JW, Naifeh KH (1987) Accuracy of response of six pulse oximeters to profound hypoxia. Anesthesiology 67:551–558

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  63. Severinghaus JW, Astrup PB (1986) History of blood gas analysis. VI. Oximetry J Clin Monit 2:270–288

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  64. Shimada Y, Yoshiya I, Oka N, Hamaguri K (1984) Effects of multiple scattering and peripheral circulation on arterial oxygen saturation measured with a pulse-type oximeter. Med Biol Eng Comput 22:475–478

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  65. Sidi A, Paulus DA, Rush W, Gravenstein N, Davis RF (1987) Methylene blue and indocyanine green artifactually lower pulse oximetry readings of oxygen saturation. Studies in dogs. J Clin Monit 3:249–256

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  66. Sidi A, Rush W, Gravenstein N, Ruiz B, Paulus DA, Davis RF (1987) Pulse oximetry fails to accurately detect low levels of arterial hemoglobin oxygen saturation in dogs. J Clin Monit 3:257–262

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  67. Sidi A, Rush WR, Paulus DA, Gravenstein N, Davis RF (1986) Effect of fluorescein, indocyanine green, and methylene blue on the measurement of oxygen saturation by pulse oximetry. Anesthesiology 65:A132

    Article  Google Scholar 

  68. Sloan TB (1988) Finger injury by an oxygen saturation monitor probe. Anesthesiology 68:936–938

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  69. Taylor G, Larson CP, Prestwich R (1976) Unexpected cardiac arrest during anesthesia and surgery. JAMA 236:2758–2760

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  70. Taylor MB, Whitwam JG (1988) The accuracy of pulse oximeters. Anaesthesia 43:229–232

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  71. Thys DM, Cohen E, Girard D, Kirschner PA, Kaplan JA (1986) The pulse oximeter: a non-invasive monitor of oxygenation during thoracic surgery. Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 34:380–383

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  72. Tomkins DP, Gaukroger PB, Bentley MW (1988) Hypoxia in children following general anaesthesia. Anaesth Intensive Care 16:177–181

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  73. Tremper KK, Shoemaker WC, Shippy CR, Nolan LS (1981) Transcutaneous PCO2 monitoring on adult patients in the ICU and the operation room. Crit Care Med 9:752–755

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  74. Tryba M, Kurth H, Lenz M (1987) Klinische und toxikologische Untersuchungen zur axillären Plexusblockade mit Prilocain oder Mepivacain. Regional-Anästhesie 10:31–36

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  75. Tyler IL, Tantisira B, Winter PM, Motoyama EK (1985) Continuous monitoring of arterial oxygen saturation with pulse oximetry during transfer to the recovery room. Anesth Analg 64:1108–1112

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  76. Viitanen A, Salmenperä M, Heinonen J (1987) Noninvasive monitoring of oxygenation during one-lung ventilation: a comparison of transcutaneous oxygen tension measurement and pulse oximetry. J Clin Monit 3:90–95

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  77. Wood E, Geraci JE (1949) Photoelectric determination of arterial oxygen saturation in man. J Lab Clin Med 34:387–401

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  78. Wukitsch MW, Petterson MT, Tobler DR, Pologe JA (1988) Pulse oximetry: analysis of theory, technology, and practice. J CLin Monit 4:290–301

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  79. Yelderman M, New W (1983) Evaluation of pulse oximetry. Anesthesiology 59:349–352

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  80. Yoshiya I, Shimada Y, Tanaka K (1980) Spectrophotometric monitoring of arterial oxygen saturation in the fingertip. Med Biol Eng Comput 18:27–32

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  81. Zander R, Mertzlufft F (1986) The oxygen status in arterial human blood: terminology, diagnosis and determination of parameters. In: Payne JP, Severinghaus JW (eds) Pulse oximetry. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 31–36

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors
  1. H. W. Striebel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. F. J. Kretz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Universitätsklinikum Steglitz Klinik für Anästhesiologie und Operative Intensivmedizin, Freie Universität Berlin, Hindenburgdamm 30, 1000, Berlin 45, Germany

    K. Reinhart  & K. Eyrich  & 

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1989 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this paper

Cite this paper

Striebel, H.W., Kretz, F.J. (1989). Advantages and Limitations of Pulse Oximetry. In: Reinhart, K., Eyrich, K. (eds) Clinical Aspects of O2 Transport and Tissue Oxygenation. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-83872-9_17

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-83872-9_17

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-51470-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-83872-9

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation