We were talking about medical emergency in dental clinic. We have seen so far what the role of your team in emergency is, how to do primary survey from ABCDE method in unconscious patient and what the recovery position is.
Today we will talk about pulse oximeter in emergency devices.
After ECG, pulse oximeter is supposed to be one of the biggest advancement. Pulse oximeter only tells us the percentage of oxygen carried by hemoglobin, it does not tell us that oxygen is reaching to the tissues or not.
Pulse oximeter is basically a small device which is applied on your finger tip and it will tell you about oxygen as well as heart rate.
But the question rises that what a dentist will do from pulse oximeter?
Hypoxemia could occur in dental patient also like – when a surgery takes long duration of time, when a patient is in sedate form or during an asthma attack.
Pulse oximeter is fifth vital sign which will tell dentist beforehand only that there is a scarcity in patient’s arterial oxygen saturation and you will be safe from facing compilation.
So, how pulse oximeter works –
Pulse oximeter works on simple but brilliant principle.
There are two probes of pulse oximeter in which finger is adjusted.
One side of probe emits infrared light on your finger while the other probe checks how much light is absorbed by the finger and how much reached to it. Because oxygenated blood is red, so more red light passes through.
Pulse oximeter works on this formula and tells you everything.
Next is what exactly pulse oximeter measures and what are normal readings.
It measures amount of oxygen carried by hemoglobin and this reading is called SpO2.
During measuring oxygen heart rate is automatically calculated.
And you can rely on these readings.
SpO2 can be found between 97%-100% in a normal young patient, 93%-97% in an old patient and it can decrease between 88%-92% in a patient of CoPD.
Now, let’s see procedure for pulse oximeter –
First of all ensure battery is charged and the probe of oximeter is clean.
This is a good idea to keep your hands clean and dry.
Then explain the procedure to patient.
You can apply this on the finger tip of hand and toe but the finger of hand is supposed to be better because the blood supply on toes is less.
You can apply it on earlobe too but earlobe is also not a good place.
The middle finger of right hand is supposed to be the best site. If you apply it on other finger then also you will not get a major difference.
While applying on finger tip, pay attention that the patient has not applied nail polish.
Do not shake patient much for better readings.
Monitor other vital signs also because after all it’s just a machine which can be bad too.