Pulse oximeters for the detection of hypoxaemia.

The main purpose of pulse oximetry is to alert health-care professionals to the early stages of hypoxaemia. Pulse oximetry is an accurate and widely used method of monitoring peripheral saturation. As with any monitoring device, care must be taken to monitor the patient's vital signs. Pulse oximetry measures the saturation of arterial haemoglobin, not the adequacy of ventilation.