[Unreliability of pulse oximetry in hypothermic children after cardiovascular surgery with deep hypothermic circulation].
BACKGROUND
The aim of the study was to evaluate the accuracy of oxygen saturation with the pulse oximeter (SpO2) in children undergoing cardiovascular surgery with deep hypothermic circulation.


METHODS
The SpO2 values measured at the hand and at the foot were compared in 50 patients with the arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) measured with the oximeter. A variance value between the two measurements less than 3% was considered as a reliable measurement, and the precision of the measurement was defined as the standard deviation of the variability.


RESULTS
For skin temperature between 35 and 28 C grade, and for core temperature more than 34 grade, the SpO2 is a reliable measurement of the SaO2; for skin temperature less than 28 grade and core temperature less than 34 grade the SpO2 do not correspond the SaO2.


CONCLUSIONS
The variability and the precision of the measurements are not affected the position of the probe (hand or foot).
Picardo
S
S
Dipartimento Medico Chirurgico di Cardiologia Pediatrica, Ospedale Bambino Gesù, Roma.
Di Chiara
L
L
Averardi
M
M
Testa
G
G
Giamberti
A
A
Catena
G
G
D013504:Cardiovascular Surgical Procedures; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D007036:Hypothermia, Induced; D010092:Oximetry / Q000592:standards*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012881:Skin Temperature
Inattendibilità del pulse oximetry in lattanti ipotermici dopo interventi di cardiochirurgia in ipotermia profonda.