Intrapartum reflectance pulse oximetry: effects of sensor location and fixation duration on oxygen saturation readings.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effects of sensor location and suction fixation duration on measurements of intrapartum fetal oxygen saturation (SpO2) with a new reflectance pulse oximetry system.


METHODS
Fetal SpO2 values (n = 18) were determined in the first stage of labor before and after moving the sensor to another part of the fetal head.


RESULTS
Mean fetal SpO2 values did not differ with sensor location (95% CI: -3.59 to 1.48). The duration of measurement period 1, before moving the sensor, was 104 +/- 44 (range 30-240) min. No time-dependent changes in SpO2 values were seen (r = 0.17).


CONCLUSIONS
Suction is an effective and noninvasive method of securing the reflectance pulse oximetry sensor to the fetal head in the first stage of labor and does not interfere with reproducible SpO2 values over several hours.
Faisst
K
K
Unit of Perinatal Physiology, University Hospital of Zurich, Switzerland.
Kirkinen
P
P
König
V
V
Huch
A
A
Huch
R
R
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry*; D005323:Fetal Monitoring; D006801:Humans; D007743:Labor, Obstetric; D010092:Oximetry / Q000295:instrumentation; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy
D010100:Oxygen