Podcast 813: Pulse Oximetry

Podcast 813: Pulse Oximetry

Contributor: Travis Barlock, MD

Educational Pearls:

  • Most oxygen in the body is bound to hemoglobin, forming oxyhemoglobin. Less than 1% of the oxygen in the body is dissolved in plasma.
  • Pulse Oximeters (Pulse Ox) function by emitting wavelengths of light from one side, and capturing the amount absorbed on the opposite side. A calculation determined the amount of saturation.
  • Pulse Ox relies on pulsations in arterial flow to create a photoplethysmogram (pleth) for measurements
    • Patients with poor peripheral perfusion may have unreliable pulse ox.
    • Patient with an LVAD have constant flow and also unreliable pulse ox.
  • Pulse Ox is a useful tool when pacing to determine mechanical capture. If there is disparity between the electrical wave pulse and the rate on pulse ox, there is likely no mechanical capture leading to poor distal flow.

References

Eecen CMW, Kooter AJJ. Pulsoximeters: werking, valkuilen en praktische tips [Pulse oximetry: principles, limitations and practical applications]. Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd. 2021;165:D5891. Published 2021 May 11.

Elgendi M. On the analysis of fingertip photoplethysmogram signals. Curr Cardiol Rev. 2012;8(1):14-25. doi:10.2174/157340312801215782

Summarized by Kirsten Hughes, MS4 | Edited by John Spartz MD & Erik Verzemnieks, MD

The Emergency Medical Minute is excited to announce that we are now offering AMA PRA Category 1 credits™ via online course modules. To access these and for more information, visit our website at https://emergencymedicalminute.org/cme-courses/ and create an account.

Donate to EMM today!

Episoder(1144)

Episode 987: Cough Suppressants

Episode 987: Cough Suppressants

Contributor: Meghan Hurley, MD Educational Pearls:  OTC Medications Dextromethorphan (DM) Most common OTC cough suppressant Minimal efficacy: Little evidence that it shortens the duration or severit...

15 Des 20257min

Episode 986: Lateral Canthotomy in Emergency Settings

Episode 986: Lateral Canthotomy in Emergency Settings

Contributor: Taylor Lynch, MD Educational Pearls: What is orbital compartment syndrome, and how is it assessed in the emergency room? Orbital compartment syndrome (OCS) is an emergent ophthalmic cond...

8 Des 20254min

Episode 985: Amiodarone vs. Lidocaine

Episode 985: Amiodarone vs. Lidocaine

Contributor: Aaron Lessen, MD Educational Pearls: How do amiodarone and lidocaine work on the heart? Amiodarone Blocks potassium channels (Class III effect). Also blocks sodium and calcium channels....

8 Des 20252min

Episode 984: Fish Hooks

Episode 984: Fish Hooks

Contributor: Megan Hurley, MD Educational Pearls: Assess first: confirm the hook isn't near vital structures. Automatic subspecialty consult for eye involvement or proximity to carotid artery, radial...

24 Nov 20254min

Episode 983: Head-of-Bed Position in Large Vessel Occlusion Strokes

Episode 983: Head-of-Bed Position in Large Vessel Occlusion Strokes

Contributor: Aaron Lessen MD Educational Pearls:  Recent prospective randomized clinical trial assessed optimal head-of-bed positioning in patients with LVO 0º vs. 30º elevation Objective was to det...

18 Nov 20252min

Episode 982: Epistaxis Management

Episode 982: Epistaxis Management

Contributor: Meghan Hurley, MD Educational Pearls: 1. Initial Assessment Start with a physical examination: Determine if the bleed is anterior or posterior. Perform a primary survey: assess ai...

10 Nov 20256min

Episode 981: Electrical Burns

Episode 981: Electrical Burns

Contributor: Travis Barlock, MD Educational Pearls: Quick Statistics on Electrical Burns: Electrical burns compose roughly 2 to 9% of all burns that come into emergency departments. The majority of p...

3 Nov 20253min

Tox Talks 2025 Recap 1, Digoxin and Beta Blockers

Tox Talks 2025 Recap 1, Digoxin and Beta Blockers

Contributors: Preeya Prakash MD, Adam Greenhaw PharmD, Travis Barlock MD, and Jeffrey Olson MS4 In this episode, cardiologist Preeya Prakash and medical student Jeffrey Olson listen in as two cases ar...

29 Okt 202557min

Populært innen Vitenskap

fastlegen
tingenes-tilstand
rekommandert
tomprat-med-gunnar-tjomlid
rss-rekommandert
forskningno
jss
sinnsyn
villmarksliv
smart-forklart
rss-paradigmepodden
fjellsportpodden
diagnose
tidlose-historier
nevropodden
aldring-og-helse-podden
dekodet-2
vett-og-vitenskap-med-gaute-einevoll
grunnstoffene
rss-nysgjerrige-norge