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Effect of fetal haemoglobin on the accuracy of pulse oximetry in preterm infants
Author(s) -
RAJADURAI V. S.,
WALKER A. M.,
YU V. Y. H.,
OATES A.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
journal of paediatrics and child health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.631
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1440-1754
pISSN - 1034-4810
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1754.1992.tb02615.x
Subject(s) - medicine , pulse oximetry , anesthesia , oxygen saturation , fetal hemoglobin , pulse (music) , gestation , gestational age , fetus , cardiology , oxygen , pregnancy , chemistry , organic chemistry , detector , biology , electrical engineering , genetics , engineering
Pulse oximeters are programmed with a calibration curve derived from studies done in adults. Whether fetal haemoglobin levels affect their reliability is unclear. This study reports the accuracy of pulse oximetry in 22 preterm infants (mean 31 weeks, range 25–36 weeks gestation) between 1 h and 73 days of age. Oxygen saturation obtained from a Nellcor N‐200 pulse oximeter (SpO 2 ) was compared with simultaneous arterial values (functional SaO 2 ) measured by a Radiometer OSM3 Hemoximeter over a SpO 2 range of 83–99%. Fetal haemoglobin (HbF), carboxyhaemoglobin (HbCO) and methaemoglobin (HbMet) measured by the hemoximeter ranged between 0–100%, 0–3.5% and 0–0.8% respectively. Linear regression analysis revealed a close correlation between SpO 2 and functional SaO 2 (SpO 2 = 0.75 SaO 2 + 24.43, r = 0.88, (P<0.001) over a wide range of values for PCV, heart rate, blood pressure, PaO 2 . PaCO 2 and pH. The mean SpO 2 ‐SaO 2 difference of 1.3, (s.d. 2.5%, P(0.001) was unaffected by HgF, HbCO or HbMet but was increased in infants receiving inotropic support. We conclude that the Nellcor N‐200 pulse oximeter gives reliable oxygen saturation measurements unaffected by the HbF level in preterm infants.