RE: PULSE-OXIMETERS
BY: Gary Saffer to Mike Bouser on Wed Jan 22 1997 01:35 pm
 > 
 > MB>   Besides carefully assessing the patient, using the oximeter
 > MB>as a tool to perhaps verify your initial conclusions would seem to be
 > MB>the route to stick
 > MB>to.
 > 
 > The Pulse Ox is only one tool, and although accurate as far as what it
 > measures, what that measurement means can and does vary. If you have two
 > different patients each with a O2 sat of 90%, one can be okay, and the
 > other can be in dire straights. The best use of the Pulse Ox that I have
 > found is to put it on a patient and leave it in the constant monitor
 > mode. That CAN help tell you if the patient is getting better, but even
 > still is no substitute for good clinical skills.
 > 
 > Gary
 > 
 > þ CMPQwk 1.42 129 þTwo most common elements: Hydrogen & Stupidity
Where we have found that Sa O2 readings to be most mistunderstood is with CHF
patients in the early stages of failure.  The medic would assess the patient
with acute distress and reguard the Sa O2 level to be acceptable we in fact
that is not the case.
--- GEcho 1.11+
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