Pulse Oximetry

This section focuses on the use of pulse oximetry during procedural sedation and analgesia (PSA). Pulse oximetry is the most common monitoring method used during PSA. It is a noninvasive method for monitoring a patient’s peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) of hemoglobin. Its use is recommended in the monitoring of children undergoing various levels of sedation as a means to detect hypoxemia and decrease the likelihood of adverse outcomes, including cardiopulmonary arrest and death. It is a highly reliable modality for detecting oxygen desaturation events. However, understanding its indications and limitations will allow the user to properly identify and manage a desaturation event during PSA.