City Research Online

Abstract

Pulse oximetry probes placed peripherally may fail to give accurate values of blood oxygen saturation when the peripheral circulation is poor. Because central blood flow may be preferentially preserved, we investigated the oesophagus as an alternative monitoring site. A reflectance blood oxygen saturation probe was developed and evaluated in 49 patients undergoing cardiothoracic surgery. The oesophageal pulse oximeter results were in good agreement with oxygen saturation measurements obtained by a blood gas analyser, a CO-oximeter and a commercial finger pulse oximeter. The median (IQR [range]) difference between the oesophageal oxygen saturation results and those from blood gas analysis were 0.00 (-0.30 to 0.30 [-4.47 to 2.60]), and between the oesophageal oxygen saturation results and those from CO-oximetry were 0.75 (0.30 to 1.20 [-1.80 to 1.80]). Bland-Altman analysis showed that the bias and the limits of agreement between the oesophageal and finger pulse oximeters were -0.3% and -3.3 to 2.7%, respectively. In five (10.2%) patients, the finger pulse oximeter failed for at least 10 min, whereas the oesophageal readings remained reliable. The results suggest that the oesophagus may be used as an alternative monitoring site for pulse oximetry even in patients with compromised peripheral perfusion.

Publication Type:	Article
Additional Information:	This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Kyriacou, P. A., Powell, S. L., Jones, D. P. and Langford, R. M. (2003), Evaluation of oesophageal pulse oximetry in patients undergoing cardiothoracic surgery. Anaesthesia, 58: 422–427, which has been published in final form at http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2044.2003.03091.x. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving.
Publisher Keywords:	Blood gas analysis; oximetry; monitoring; intra-operative; surgery; cardiac; thoracic
Subjects:	R Medicine T Technology > TA Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General)
Departments:	School of Science & Technology > Engineering
SWORD Depositor:	Symplectic Administrator

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