BMJ 1995;311:452 (12 August)

Letters

Pulse oximetry has limitations

EDITOR,--Most anaesthetists are already aware of the dual problems of oxygenation and monitoring during endoscopy on sedated patients.1 The solution, however, may not be as simple as introducing supplemental oxygen and using pulse oximetry for all patients. There are crucial differences between a sedated patient undergoing endoscopy and an anaesthetised patient undergoing surgery.

Firstly, for patients undergoing endoscopy there is usually only one operator, who performs the endoscopy as well as giving sedation and cannot therefore give the patient's oxygenation and monitoring full attention during the procedure. The revised recommendations for standards of monitoring during anaesthesia and recovery issued by the Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland state that the anaesthetist should be present throughout the general anaesthesia and that this consideration applies to any technique or sedation carrying a risk of unconsciousness.

Secondly, and most importantly, pulse oximetry is not an infallible monitoring device, though it is . . . [Full text of this article]


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Relevant Article

Monitoring and supplemental oxygen during endoscopy
J E Charlton
BMJ 1995 310: 886-887. [Extract] [Full Text]

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