Pulse Oximetry

Although the use of pulse oximeter is widely widespread in critical care settings, recent studies have shown the lack of knowledge of nurses and doctors. With the use of this important tool, hypoxemic episodes can be detected in time, avoiding the serious complications contributing thus to avoidance of the risk of a false sense of security by medical stuff. In this review are described the principles on which the pulse oximetry are based, the accuracy and clinical application as well as the limitations of its use.

Keywords: pulse oximetry, pulse oximeter, monitoring, cntical car