Delayed recognition of an oximeter malfunction.
Most anesthesiologists, relying upon sales presentations from salesmen from oximeter manufacturers, believe that if an oximeter produces a steady signal with a good pulse amplitude, the numbers are always believable in the absence of interference from external light sources or from intravenous dyes. Here I report a case in which an oximeter appeared to be working properly yet displayed values which were falsely low. Trust in the oximeter resulted in delayed identification of the problem.
Block
F E
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Department of Anesthesiology, Indian River Memorial Hospital, Vero Beach, FL.
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000758:Anesthesia; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000295:instrumentation*; D010092:Oximetry / Q000295:instrumentation*