Definition:
The pulse oximeter is a small, clip-like device. It attaches to a body part, most commonly to a finger, toe, or ear lobe.
◾Pulse oximetry is a noninvasive test that measures the oxygen saturation level of your blood.
◾ It can rapidly detect even small changes in oxygen levels. These levels show how efficiently blood is carrying oxygen to the extremities furthest from your heart, including your arms and legs.
Parts of pulse oximeter:
Purpose:
Medical professionals may use pulse oximeters to monitor the health of people with conditions that affect blood oxygen levels such as:
- chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- asthma
- pneumonia
- lung cancer
- anemia
- heart attack or heart failure
- congenital heart disease
Uses / Indications:
Doctors use pulse oximetry for a number of different reasons, including:
- to assess how well a new lung medication is working
- to evaluate whether someone needs help breathing
- to evaluate how helpful a ventilator is
- to monitor oxygen levels during or after surgical procedures that require sedation
- to determine whether someone needs supplemental oxygen therapy
- to determine how effective supplemental oxygen therapy is, especially when treatment is new
- to assess someone’s ability to tolerate increased physical activity
- to evaluate whether someone momentarily stops breathing while sleeping — like in cases of sleep apnea — during a sleep study
Contraindications:
There are no contraindications of pulse oximeter but it can give false reading in:
- bradycardia
- irregular cardiac rhythms
- hypotention
Advantages of Pulse Oximeter:
How to take a reading:
To take a reading with a pulse oximeter, you will:
- Remove any jewelry or fingernail polish on your finger if measuring from this location.
- Make sure your hand is warm, relaxed, and below heart level if attaching the device here.
- Place the device on your finger, earlobe, or toe.
- Keep the device on for as long as needed to monitor your pulse and oxygen saturation.
- Remove the device once the test is over.
Must Read
- Pulse oximetry is a quick, noninvasive, and completely painless test. It comes with no risks, aside from potential skin irritation from the adhesive used in some types of probes.
- However, it’s not as accurate as clinical blood gas measurements, especially for people with darker skin tones.