title: Pulse oximetry in sickle cell disease.
abstract: The place of pulse oximetry in monitoring arterial oxygen saturation in sickle cell disease has been evaluated. In four admissions of patients with sickle cell anaemia with varying degrees of arterial haemoglobin oxygen desaturation, pulse oximetry was compared with a simultaneous assessment of oxygen saturation by arterial blood gas measurement and oxygen dissociation curve (ODC) analysis. Close agreement was found between the oxygen saturation measured by pulse oximetry and that calculated from the measured arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) with reference to the patient's own ODC. Calculation of oxygen saturation by the blood gas analyser assuming a normal ODC was erroneous. Pulse oximetry is an accurate and effective non-invasive method for monitoring the arterial oxygen saturation in sickle cell disease.
authors.affiliation: Division of Haematology, United Medical School, Guy's Hospital, St Thomas's Hospital, London.
authors.forename: S G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Weston Smith
authors.forename: U H
authors.initials: UH
authors.lastname: Glass
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Acharya
authors.forename: T C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Pearson
mesh_terms: D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000097:blood*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010092:Oximetry; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen