title: Determining the best method of Nellcor pulse oximeter sensor application in neonates.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify the optimal sensor application method that gave the quickest display of accurate heart rate (HR) data using the Nellcor OxiMax N-600x pulse oximeter (PO).
  
  
  METHODS
  Stable infants who were monitored with an electrocardiograph were included. Three sensor application techniques were studied: (i) sensor connected to cable, then applied to infant; (ii) sensor connected to cable, applied to investigator's finger, and then to infant; (iii) sensor applied to infant, then connected to cable. The order of techniques tested was randomized for each infant. Time taken to apply the PO sensor, to display data and to display accurate data (HR(PO) = HR(ECG) ± 3 bpm) were recorded using a stopwatch.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty infants were studied [mean (SD) birthweight, 1455 (872) g; gestational age, 31 (4) weeks; post-menstrual age, 34 (4) weeks]. Method 3 acquired any data significantly faster than methods 1 (p = 0.013; CI, -9.6 to -3.0 sec) and 2 (p = 0.004; CI, -5.9 to -1.2 sec). Method 3 acquired accurate data significantly faster than method 1 (p = 0.016; CI, -9.4 to -1.0 sec), but not method 2 (p = 0.28).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Applying the sensor to the infant before connecting it to the cable yields the fastest acquisition of accurate HR data from the Nellcor PO.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saraswat
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Simionato
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Dawson
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thio
authors.forename: C O F
authors.initials: CO
authors.lastname: Kamlin
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Owen
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schmölzer
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Davis
mesh_terms: D004867:Equipment Design; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D010092:Oximetry / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D015203:Reproducibility of Results