Pulse Ox Quiz Questions Flashcards
What is pulse oximetry?
Noninvasive measurement of the percentage of hemoglobin saturated with oxygen in arterial blood
What abbreviations are used to present the data obtained by a pulse ox?
Saturation value obtained in vivo by pulse ox: SpO2
Saturation value obtained in vitro from hemolyzed arterial blood: SaO2
What principle of physics is pulse oximetry based on?
Beer-Lambert law: absorption of light by a homogenous solution is a function of the concentration of a solution
What wavelength does oxygenated hemoglobin absorb?
Infrared light at 920-940nm
What wavelength does deoxygenated hemoglobin absorb?
Red light at 660nm
How does pulse oximetry work?
- Hgb absorbs red and infrared light at different wavelengths depending on whether light bound to O2 (infrared, 920-940nm) or deoxygenated (red light, 660nm)
- PO uses 2 light emitting diodes (LEDs) that pulse red, infrared light through perfused tissue several hundred times per second –> amt of light absorbed at each wavelength measured by sensitive photodetectors
- Absorption data expressed as a percentage of oxygenated to total hgb
How does PO differentiate arterial from venous blood?
- Assumption: arterial blood pulsatile, venous blood/tissue beds are not
- With each pulse, influx of arterial blood into the capillary bed increases the total absorption of light –> allows pulse ox to distinguish systole (arterial blood + venous blood + tissue) from diastole (venous blood + tissue)
- Data collected during systole, diastole
- Diastolic absorption values subtracted from systolic absorption values –> allows PO to eliminate all data except that produced by arterial blood
- How acquired name “pulse” oximetry
PaO2 27 = ? (normal O2 dissociation curve)
SpO2 50%
PaO2 40 = ? (normal O2 dissociation curve)
SpO2 75%
PaO2 60 = ? (normal O2 dissociation curve)
SpO2 90%
SpO2 50%? (normal O2 dissociation curve)
PaO2 27mm Hg
SpO2 75%? (normal O2 dissociation curve)
PaO2 40mm Hg
SpO2 90%? (normal O2 dissociation curve)
PaO2 60mmg Hg
What are advantages of PO?
- Easy to use
- Minimal site prep
- No special training required
- Non-invasive
- Does not require collection of blood –> no patient discomfort, no delay in data collection
- Virtually continuous measurement of saturation
- Provides information about resp, CV systems
- Affordable, mobile, easy to use
Are there dangers, times when PO would be inadequate form of monitoring?
- High O2 partial pressures –> SpO2 may not adequately warn the anesthesiologist of impending hypoxic events
- Normal O2 saturation can be achieved in a hyperventilating patient breathing high inspired oxygen concentration
- Must assess adequacy of ventilation separately from adequacy of saturation
What is the oxygen-dissociation curve?
Graphic representation of the relationship btw the percentage of oxygen saturation of hgb (SaO2, SpO2) and partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood (PaO2)
Is it necessary to calibrate the pulse ox?
No
Response to low saturation: steps
- ensure adequate ventilation by eval patency of airway, RR, Tv. Ensure no interruptions of o2 flow or accumulation of CO2 in ax machine
- Increase FiO2 if <100%. DC N2O if used. Add mechanical ventilation if necessary
- Ensure cardiac output adequate –> MM, CRT, ABP, pulse quality
- Address other issues including positioning of the patient, surgical procedure (ex thoracotomy), medical conditions
- Confirm with co-oximeter/ABG