title: Evaluation of a new pulse oximeter sensor.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A new forehead noninvasive oxygen saturation sensor may improve signal quality in patients with low cardiac index.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine agreement between oxygen saturation values obtained by using digit-based and forehead pulse oximeters with arterial oxygen saturation in patients with low cardiac index.
  
  
  METHODS
  A method-comparison study was used to examine the agreement between 2 different pulse oximeters and arterial oxygen saturation in patients with low cardiac index. Readings were obtained from a finger and a forehead sensor and by analysis of a blood sample. Bias, precision, and root mean square differences were calculated for the digit and forehead sensors. Differences in bias and precision between the 2 noninvasive devices were evaluated with a t test (level of significance P<.05).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nineteen patients with low cardiac index (calculated as cardiac output in liters per minute divided by body surface area in square meters; mean 1.98, SD 0.34) were studied for a total of 54 sampling periods. Mean (SD) oxygen saturations were 97% (2.4) for blood samples, 96% (3.2) for the finger sensor, and 97% (2.8) for the forehead sensor. By Bland Altman analysis, bias +/- precision was -1.16 +/- 1.62% for the digit sensor and -0.36 +/- 1.74% for the forehead sensor; root mean square differences were 1.93% and 1.70%, respectively. Bias and precision differed significantly between the 2 devices; the forehead sensor differed less from the blood sample.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In patients with low cardiac index, the forehead sensor was better than the digit sensor for pulse oximetry.
authors.affiliation: Saint Thomas Health Services, Nashville, TN 37202, USA. mfernand@stthomas.org
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fernandez
authors.forename: Kathy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Burns
authors.forename: Beverly
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Calhoun
authors.forename: Saramma
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: George
authors.forename: Beverly
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Weaver
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002303:Cardiac Output, Low / Q000097:blood*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005385:Fingers; D005546:Forehead; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010092:Oximetry / Q000295:instrumentation*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen