Pulse oximeter accuracy and precision affected by sensor location in cyanotic children.
OBJECTIVE
Children's digits are often too small for proper attachment of oximeter sensors, necessitating sensor placement on the sole of the foot or palm of the hand. No study has determined what effect these sensor locations have on the accuracy and precision of this technology. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of sensor location on pulse oximeter accuracy (i.e., bias) and precision in critically ill children.


METHODS
Prospective, observational study with consecutive sampling.


METHODS
Tertiary care, pediatric intensive care unit.


METHODS
Fifty critically ill children, newborn to 2 yrs of age, with an indwelling arterial catheter. Forty-seven of 50 (94%) patients were postcardiac surgery.


METHODS
None.


RESULTS
Co-oximeter-measured arterial oxygen saturation (Sao2) was compared with simultaneously obtained pulse oximetry saturations (Spo2). A total of 98 measurements were obtained, 48 measurements in the upper extremities (finger and palm) and 50 measurements in the lower extremities (toe and sole). The median Sao2 was 92% (66% to 100%). There was a significant difference in bias (i.e., average Spo2 - Sao2) and precision (+/-1 sd) when the sole and toe were compared (sole, 2.9 +/- 3.9 vs. toe, 1.6 +/- 2.2, p = .02) but no significant difference in bias and precision between the palm and the finger (palm, 1.4 +/- 3.2 vs. finger, 1.2 +/- 2.3, p = .99). There was a significant difference in bias +/- precision when the Sao2 was <90% compared with when Sao2 was >or=90% in the sole (6.0 +/- 5.7 vs. 1.8 +/- 2.1, p = .002) and palm (4.5 +/- 4.5 vs. 0.7 +/- 2.4, p = .006) but no significant difference in the finger (1.8 +/- 3.8 vs. 1.1 +/- 1.8, p = .95) or toe (1.9 +/- 2.9 vs. 1.6 +/- 1.9, p = .65).


CONCLUSIONS
The Philips M1020A pulse oximeter and Nellcor MAX-N sensors were less accurate and precise when used on the sole of the foot or palm of the hand of a child with an Sao2 <90%.
Sedaghat-Yazdi
Farshad
F
Department of Pediatrics, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Children's Hospital of Illinois at OSF St. Francis Medical Center, Peoria, IL, USA.
Torres
Adalberto
A
Fortuna
Randall
R
Geiss
Dale M
DM
D002675:Child, Preschool; D016638:Critical Illness; D003490:Cyanosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005528:Foot; D006225:Hand; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015278:Intensive Care Units, Pediatric; D010092:Oximetry / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies