Pulse oximetry in the postoperative care of cardiac surgical patients. A randomized controlled trail.
OBJECTIVE
To demonstrate the utility of pulse oximetry in detecting clinically unapparent episodes of arterial desaturation in postoperative cardiac surgical patients and to evaluate the effect of pulse oximetry on ordering arterial blood gas analyses.


METHODS
Prospective, randomized, partially blinded comparison.


METHODS
Cardiothoracic surgical intensive care unit.


METHODS
35 patients following elective cardiac surgical procedures.


METHODS
All patients were monitored continuously with pulse oximetry throughout their ICU course. In group 1 patients, the SpO2 data were available at the bedside. In group 2 patients, the SpO2 data were masked at the bedside and monitored at a remote location.


RESULTS
Utilization of pulse oximetry allowed a significant reduction in arterial blood gas utilization in group 1 (group 1: 12.4 +/- 7.5 blood gas analyses per ICU admission vs group 2: 23.1 +/- 8.8; p = 0.0007) without adverse events. Clinically unapparent desaturations were detected in 7 of 15 patients in group 2.


CONCLUSIONS
Pulse oximetry improves patient safety through the detection of clinically unapparent episodes of desaturation and can allow a reduction in the number of blood gas analyses utilized without adverse effects to the patient. This may allow a potential cost savings to the patient.
Bierman
M I
MI
Department of Anesthesiology/Critical Care Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Presbyterian University Hospital.
Stein
K L
KL
Snyder
J V
JV
D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D010092:Oximetry; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012121:Respiration, Artificial