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Practical Pulse Oximetry - mockup

Practical Pulse Oximetry

Courtney Scales DipVN, NCert(Anaesth), RVN
Clinical Educator (Anaesthesia)

Keith Simpson BVSc, MRCVS, MIET (Electronics) Clinical Director 

Pulse oximeters are a widely available piece of patient monitoring equipment, used in veterinary anaesthesia. They are inexpensive, easy to use and provide non-invasive methods to gain real-time information on oxygen transport while providing an audible and visual pulse rate. The monitoring of pulse oximetry has been shown to reduce the risk of anaesthesia-related morbidity and mortality.

  • Pulse oximetry reduces the risk of anaesthesia-related morbidity and mortality. 
  • Hypoxaemia is defined as a PaO2 less than 60mmHg, which corresponds to a SpO2 <90%.
  • The cyanotic bluish mucous membrane colour which is associated with hypoxaemia is only visible when the SpO2 is <85%.