Objective:To calibrate a reflectance pulse oximeter developed at the Division of Perinatal Physiology, University Hospital of Zurich, for monitoring of oxygen saturations below 70%.
Methods:Oxygen saturation measured monivasively with the reflectance pulse oximeter in fetal sheep was compared with oxygen saturation of arterial blood samples measured by a conventional two-wavelength oximeter. Oxygen saturation was varied by stepwise reduction of the inspired oxygen concentration of the ewe.
Results:A total of 58 data pairs was obtained from five fetuses, with a range of 10.9-73.5% for the reference method and 6.8-69.2% for the pulse oximetry oxygen saturation values. There was good correlation between the results obtained by the two methods (r2 = .89, P < .0001), with a 95% confidence interval of ± 12.5%. The pulse oximeter showed a precision of 6.2% oxygen saturation.
Conclusion:The Zurich reflectance pulse oximeter offers valid measurements of oxygen saturation levels down to 10% oxygen saturation, and is therefore suitable for monitoring the fetus during delivery.
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