Skin color and ear oximetry

Measurements of arterial blood oxygen saturation from two ear oximeters were compared with 655 simultaneously drawn arterial blood samples in 187 patients grouped by skin color quantified by the Munsell color system. Technical problems including warning lights and messages with the two ear oximeters...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inChest Vol. 96; no. 2; p. 287
Main Authors Ries, A L, Prewitt, L M, Johnson, J J
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 01.08.1989
Subjects
Blood Gas Monitoring, Transcutaneous
Ear, External
Exercise Test
Humans
Lung Diseases - blood
Prospective Studies
Skin Pigmentation
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Summary:Measurements of arterial blood oxygen saturation from two ear oximeters were compared with 655 simultaneously drawn arterial blood samples in 187 patients grouped by skin color quantified by the Munsell color system. Technical problems including warning lights and messages with the two ear oximeters were recorded. There were significantly more technical problems in patients with the darkest skin color associated with inability to obtain a reading or warning message indicating poor tissue penetration of the signal (18 and 15 percent vs 1 percent). When readings could be obtained, the ear oximetry readings were found to be slightly less accurate in the darker patient groups. These findings suggest that dark skin color may affect the performance and accuracy of ear oximeters, including the newer type of pulse oximeters.
ISSN:0012-3692
DOI:10.1378/chest.96.2.287