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Prehospital Use of Pulse Oximetry in Rotary-Wing Aircraft

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 June 2012

Peter C. Valko ,
Jack P. Campbell ,
David L. McCarty ,
Dennis Martin  and
Joe Turnbull
Peter C. Valko
Affiliation:
University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Department of Surgery, Section of Emergency Medicine, Oklahoma City, Okla., USA
Jack P. Campbell*
Affiliation:
Formerly with Section of Emergency Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. Currently with Department of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Kansas City, Mo., USA
David L. McCarty
Affiliation:
University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Department of Surgery, Section of Emergency Medicine, Oklahoma City, Okla., USA
Dennis Martin
Affiliation:
University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Department of Surgery, Section of Emergency Medicine, Oklahoma City, Okla., USA
Joe Turnbull
Affiliation:
University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Department of Surgery, Section of Emergency Medicine, Oklahoma City, Okla., USA
*
University of Missouri–Kansas City, Trauma Medical Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, 2301 Holmes Street, Kansas City, MO 64108, USA(816) 556-3127
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Abstract

A prospective study of 200 patients was conducted to evaluate the use of pulse oximetry as an adjunct to clinical monitoring of critically ill patients transported by rotary-wing aircraft with non-pressurized cabins. Thirty-four subjects (17%) were found to have significant hemoglobin desaturation of less than 90%, as defined by pulse oximetry (SpO2). Data were recorded continuously for later review. Desaturation often was noted prior to alterations in vital signs or clinical appearance. In 32 of the 34 hypoxemic subjects (94%), therapeutic interventions corrected the low SpO2. The use of pulse oximetry permitted measures for cardiorespiratory support to be instituted and assessed more rapidly than otherwise would have been possible. The availability of a continuous record of SpO2 facilitated detailed review of case management. It is concluded that the use of pulse oximetry is a practical and valuable adjunct for monitoring critically ill patients transported by rotary-wing aircraft.

Type
Original Research
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 6 , Issue 4 , December 1991 , pp. 421 - 428
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 1991

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