Basic studies of pulse oximetry in a rabbit model.

We have developed an animal model for the evaluation of pulse oximetry during severe hypoxaemia. Twelve rabbits were anaesthetized and mechanically ventilated via a tracheostomy tube. Increasing fractions of nitrogen were added to the gas mixture they inhaled to obtain severe hypoxaemia (saturation range 26%-100%). On 412 occasions, simultaneous pulse oximeter (SpO2) and invasive haemoximeter (SaO2) measurements were compared. The regression analysis of the data gave the equation: y = 0.7 x + 26.7, r = 0.90. In the SaO2 range less than or equal to 85%, the bias (mean value of SaO2-SpO2) was higher when compared with SaO2 greater than 85%. In an in vitro study the light absorption characteristics of rabbit haemoglobin (Hb) were compared to human Hb. The millimolar extinction coefficients of both reduced and oxygenated Hb from rabbits were found to be similar to human Hb. We consider the animal model (rabbit) suitable for studies of pulse oximetry during physiological and pathophysiological conditions.