title: Pulse oximetry in severe anaemia.
abstract: Measurement of arterial oxygen saturation by pulse oximetry was performed in two patients with acute and chronic anaemia (haemoglobin concentrations: 2.9 mmol/l (4.7 g/dl) and 1.9 mmol/l (3.0 g/dl), respectively) using a Radiometer OXI and a Nellcor N-200 pulse oximeter. The two oximeters read alternating different values in the two patients. In conclusion, pulse oximeters are able to give a value for oxygen saturation even at extreme anaemia, and when a high value is given, it possibly reflects arterial oxygen saturation. The value of pulse oximetry in severe anaemia is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Gastroenterology 235, Hvidovre University Hospital, Denmark.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ramsing
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rosenberg
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000740:Anemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology; D015982:Bias; D001784:Blood Gas Analysis; D005260:Female; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000150:complications; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000145:classification; D010092:Oximetry / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins