title: Pulse oximetry in acute asthma.
abstract: The predictive value of pulse oximetry was evaluated in 100 patients who attended the emergency department with acute asthma. Oximetry after treatment with a cut off point of less than 91% had a sensitivity of 42% and specificity of 78% for unfavourable outcome, and oximetry before treatment had a sensitivity of 36% and a specificity of 57%. Despite its low sensitivity, oximetry after treatment does seem to have a role in minimising diagnostic errors in the emergency department, but only when used in conjunction with clinical assessment.
authors.affiliation: Melbourne University, Department of Paediatrics, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Australia.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bishop
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nolan
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000420:Albuterol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007902:Length of Stay; D010092:Oximetry; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D000420:Albuterol; D010100:Oxygen