title: Diagnostic dilemma: Low oxygen saturation during cardiac surgery.
abstract: We report a case of rheumatic heart disease with severe mitral stenosis having cyanosis and low oxygen saturation on pulse oximetry. The findings of clinical examination and low values on pulse oximetry were inconsistent with the findings of normal partial pressure of oxygen and oxygen saturation on arterial blood gas analysis, leading to diagnostic dilemma. In such clinical scenario, the anesthesiologist should be aware and vigilant about the differential diagnosis of low oxygen saturation on pulse oximetry.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Anaesthesia, CNC, AIIMS, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Suruchi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ladha
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Anaesthesia, CNC, AIIMS, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Shivani
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aggarwal
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Anaesthesia, CNC, AIIMS, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Usha
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Kiran
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Anaesthesia, CNC, AIIMS, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Arindam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Choudhary
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Anaesthesia, CNC, AIIMS, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Poonam Malhotra
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Kapoor
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, CNC, AIIMS, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Ujjwal Kumar
authors.initials: UK
authors.lastname: Choudhary
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001784:Blood Gas Analysis; D003490:Cyanosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000601:surgery; D008946:Mitral Valve Stenosis / Q000601:surgery*; D016343:Monitoring, Intraoperative / Q000379:methods*; D010092:Oximetry / Q000379:methods*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen