Chest
Clinical Investigations: Pulmonary FunctionPulse Oximetry in Severe Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Section snippets
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Records of all patients treated with hyperbaric oxygen for acute CO poisoning at Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle from December 1988 to November 1997 were screened. Those with measured COHb values >25.0% as determined by CO oximetry of arterial or venous blood were reviewed in detail. Charts of patients with documented simultaneous measurement of arterial hemoglobin oxygen saturation by pulse oximetry (SpO2), arterial blood gas (ABG) values (arterial pH [pHa], PacO2, PaO2), and COHb
RESULTS
In the decade reviewed, 740 patients were treated for acute CO poisoning with hyperbaric oxygen. Among those, 30 had COHb levels >25.0% in conjunction with documented simultaneous ABG analysis and measurement of SpO2. As these measurements were performed in the emergency departments of referring hospitals and abstracted from medical records transferred with the patient, information regarding the brand or model of pulse oximeter, ABG analyzer, and CO-oximetry was not available.
A total of 22 male
DISCUSSION
Pulse oximetry is a noninvasive method for measurement of arterial oxygenation. Several excellent reviews describing the method have been published.3, 8, 16 In brief, the technique transmits two wavelengths of light through tissue (typically 660 and 940 nm), measuring changes in absorbance at each wavelength over time. Light absorption by tissue is cyclic due to cardiac cycling and the resultant pulsation of arterial blood into the tissue bed. The pulse oximeter measures the change in light
REFERENCES (18)
- et al.
Effect of routine emergency department triage pulse oximetry screening on medical management
Chest
(1995) - et al.
The pulse oximetry gap in carbon monoxide intoxication
Ann Emerg Med
(1994) - et al.
Carboxyhaemoglobinaemia and pulse oximetry
Br J Anaesth
(1991) Emergency department visits for carbon monoxide poisoning in the Pacific Northwest
J Emerg Med
(1998)- et al.
The role of pulse oximetry in the accident and emergency department
Arch Emerg Med
(1989) - et al.
Pulse oximetry
Anesthesiology
(1989) - et al.
Potential errors in pulse oximetry: I. Pulse oximeter evaluation
Anaesthesia
(1991) - et al.
Pulse oximetry—clinical implications and recent technical developments
Acta Anaesthesiol Scand
(1995) - et al.
Limitations of pulse oximetry
Anesth Prog
(1992)
Cited by (130)
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
2021, Critical Care ClinicsMonitoring of Oxygenation and Ventilation
2021, Cohen's Comprehensive Thoracic AnesthesiaExtending strong research to high-altitude infants
2020, The Lancet Global HealthThe late effects of carbon monoxide poisoning
2023, Carbon Monoxide Poisoning: Prevention, Treatment and Outcomes