Use of pulse oximetry in critically ill adults.

Pulse oximetry represents a major advance in noninvasive oxygenation monitoring in critically ill adults. Its technology has given practitioners a safe, accurate, and continuous method for assessing arterial oxygen saturation. A comprehensive understanding of the variables of oxygen transport and hypoxemia is essential to ensure correct data interpretation. The accuracy and clinical limitations of pulse oximeters and sensors are presented in this article. The clinical utility of pulse oximetry monitoring in critically ill adults is discussed, with consideration given to patient selection and specific procedures that incur hypoxemic risk. Issues of quality assurance and risk management that surround the use of pulse oximetry are addressed.