MB>        One question I have is this: How accurate is the
MB>pulse-oximeter at guaging the saturation of the patient? Are you just
MB>reading the patients finger or is that truly a good indication of 
overall saturation?
First, no one should tell you to shut up when you ask a question. How 
the heck else are you going to learn? 
Back to your question. IMHO, Ox sat monitors are a highly overated 
device. They are just one tool that a good clinician, whether they be a 
medic, nurse, or MD. In my experience, too many people depend on sat 
readings one way or the other to dictate their treatment. It is only one 
parameter, and a not very reliable one at that. They are accurate, but 
that is not the same as reliable. It is very easy to get trapped into 
over or under treating a patient based on a sat reading, especially a 
single one. The best use, again IMHO, for Ox sat monitors is to leave 
them on the patient constantly while you are treating. Then the readings 
can show you a trend, which, along with other vital and clinical signs, 
can help you determine if your course of treatment is helping the 
patient.
Those are my thoughts on the matter, I am sure that there are people out 
there that feel otherwise. 
Gary
þ CMPQwk 1.42 129 þThe gene pool has no lifeguard
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