Different responses of ear and finger pulse oximeter wave form to cold presser test

The cold presser test is often used to assess vasoconstrictive responses be cause it simulates the vasoconstrictive challenges commonly encountered in the clinical setting. With IRE approval, 12 healthy volunteers, aged 25-50 yr, underwent baseline plethysmographic monitoring on the finger and ear. T he contralateral hand was immersed in ice water for 30 s to elicit a system ic vasoconstrictive response while the recordings were continued. The chang es in plethysmographic amplitude for the first 30 s of ice water immersion (period of maximum response) of the finger and ear were compared. The data indicate a significant disparity between the finger and the ear signals in response to the cold stimulus. The average finger plethysmographic amplitud e measurement decreased by 48% +/- 19%. Ln contrast, no significant change was seen in the ear plethysmographic amplitude measurement, which decreased by 2% +/- 10%. We conclude that the ear is relatively immune to the vasoco nstrictive effects. These findings suggest that the comparison of the ear a nd finger pulse oximeter wave forms might be used as a real-time monitor of sympathetic tone and that the ear plethysmography may be a suitable monito r of the systemic circulation.