Pharyngeal Pulse Oximetry

May be you have to think of new place to put the pulse oximetry...

In this paper the authors describe successful use of pharyngeal pulse oximetry with the oropharyngeal airway in severely shocked patients.

Pharyngeal oximetry with the oropharyngeal  airway

inserted in two patients with severe shock in whom finger pulse oximetry failed.

One patient was a 50-year-old man with septic shock and the

other a 32-year-old woman with haemorrhagic shock.

In both patients, an oropharyngeal airway with a pediatric

pulse oximeter probe was inserted adjacent to the tracheal tube. (see the photo)

A good waveform was obtained and oxygen saturation was

0-2% lower than arterial samples whereas finger pulse

oximetry saturation was unobtainable or much lower than arterial oxygen saturation.

Pharyngeal oxygen saturation with the oropharyngeal airway is feasible and more accurate than finger oximetry in low perfusion statesairway in two patients with severe shock in whom finger pulse oximetry failed.

In both patients, an oropharyngeal airway with a paediatric pulse oximeter probe was inserted adjacent to the tracheal tube.

 A good waveform was obtained and oxygen saturation was 0-2% lower than arterial samples whereas finger pulse oximetry saturation was unobtainable or much lower than arterial oxygen saturation.

 Pharyngeal oxygen saturation with the oropharyngeal airway is feasible and more accurate than finger oximetry in low perfusion states.

Why not to try it ?

Anaesthesia. 2007 Jul;62(7):734-6