False alarms and sensitivity of conventional pulse oximetry versus the Masimo SET (TM) technology in the pediatric postanesthesia care unit

We compared the incidence and duration of false alarms (FA)and the sensitiv ity of conventional pulse oximetry (CPO) with Masimo Signal Extraction Tech nology(TM) (Masimo SET(TM); Masimo Corporation, Irvine, CA) in children in the postanesthesia care unit. Disposable oximeter sensors were placed on se parate digits of one extremity. Computerized acquisition of synchronous dat a included electrocardiograph heart rate, Spo(2), and pulse rate via CPO an d Masimo SET(TM). Patient motion, respiratory, and other events were simult aneously documented. Spo(2) tracings conflicting with clinical observations and / or documented events were considered false. These were defined as 1) Data dropout, complete interruption in Spo(2) data; 2) False negative, fai lure to detect Spo(2) less than or equal to 90% detected by another device or based on observation/intervention; 3) FA, Spo(2) less than or equal to 9 0% considered artifactual; and 4) True alarm (TA), Spo(2) less than or equa l to 90% considered valid. Seventy-five children were monitored for 35 +/- 22 min/patient (42 h total). There were 27 TAs, all of which were identifie d by Masimo SET(TM) and only 16 (59%) were identified by CPO (P < 0.05). Th ere was twice the number of FAs with CPO (10 vs 4 Masimo SET(TM); P < 0.05) . The incidence and duration of data dropouts were similar between Masimo S ET(TM) and CPO. Masimo SET(TM) reduced the incidence and duration of FAs an d identified a more frequent incidence of TAs compared with CPO.