Pulse oximetry in sick premature infants and the effects of phototherapy and radiant warmers on the oxygen saturation readout

Abstract

Forty-five arterial blood samples for oxygen saturation on 15 sick premature infants were significantly correlated with pulse oximeter determinations (r = 0.87, p less than 0.0001) giving a regression equation of y = 1.19X - 18.15. Chronologic age in the first 2 weeks of life did not alter the accuracy of the pulse oximeter. Four groups (in isolette with phototherapy off, in isolette with phototherapy on, on radiant warmer with phototherapy off, and on radiant warm with phototherapy on) were observed to see if environmental light and energy would affect pulse oximetry oxygen saturation values; no effect was observed. Therefore the pulse oximeter is an accurate machine to assess sick premature infant oxygen saturation. The measurements are not altered by environmental light.