THE EFFECT OF PULSATING ARTERIES ON REFLECTANCE PULSE OXIMETRY - MEASUREMENTS IN ADULTS AND NEONATES

Objective. The objective of our study was to describe the results from human experiments during normoxia that demonstrate the effect of puls ating arteries on the measured arterial oxygen saturation (Spo(2)) usi ng a reflectance pulse oximeter sensor. Methods. In 6 healthy adults a nd 7 healthy neonates, a Nellcor reflection sensor (FS-10 oxisensor, N ellcor, Inc., Pleasanton, CA) was placed in three different positions: (1) on the forehead, (2) on the temporal area, with the photodiode pl aced over the superficial temporal artery, and (3) on the temporal are a, with the light-emitting diodes (LEDs) placed over the superficial t emporal artery. Results, Placement of the sensor in position 2 resulte d in a significantly lower Spo(2) reading, compared to sensor position 1:5.8% (p < 0.01) lower for adults and 7.5% (p < 0.01) lower for neon ates. Placement of the sensor in position 3 resulted in significantly larger plethysmographic signals, compared to sensor position 1; but, t he Spo(2) readings were alike. Conclusions, Pulsating arteries can aff ect the reliability of reflection pulse oximetry. Depending on the pos ition of the sensor, a falsely low Spo(2) value can be observed.