INTRAPARTUM REFLECTANCE PULSE OXIMETRY - EFFECTS OF SENSOR-LOCATION AND FIXATION DURATION ON OXYGEN-SATURATION READINGS

Objective. To determine the effects of sensor location and suction fix ation duration on measurements of intrapartum fetal oxygen saturation (SpO(2)) with a new reflectance pulse oximetry system. Design, Fetal S pO(2) values (n = 18) were determined in the first stage of labor befo re and after moving the sensor to another part of the fetal head. Resu lts, Mean fetal SpO(2) values did not differ with sensor location (95% CI: -3.59 to 1.48). The duration of measurement period 1, before movi ng the sensor, was 104 +/- 44 (range 30-240) min. No time-dependent ch anges in SpO(2) values were seen (r = 0.17). Conclusion. Suction is an effective and noninvasive method of securing the reflectance pulse ox imetry sensor to the fetal head in the first stage of labor and does n ot interfere with reproducible SpO(2) values over several hours.