Comparison of Two Oxygenation Targets With Two Different Oximeters - Impact on Oxygen Flow Rates and Oxygenation

The investigators recently evaluated 4 different oximeters among the most commonly used with arterial catheter in place and compared SpO2 with SaO2 obtained on arterial gas. Correlations between SaO2 and SpO2 were poor for all oximeters, as previously known, and SpO2-SaO2 bias were different between oximeters. Some oximeters (Masimo, Nellcor) had lower biases but they detected less well hypoxemia. Some oximeters underestimated SaO2 (Nonin) but detected very well hypoxemia, and some overestimated SaO2 (Philips). The investigators concluded that oximeters provide different informations to clinicians, and oxygenation targets should take into account for these differences. The assumption is that the SpO2 target AND oximeter used will both have an impact on oxygen flows and that these effects will add up. With a high SpO2 target, oxygen flows will be significantly greater and with the Nonin oximeter, the required flows will be greater than with the Philips oximeter. NB: the results obtained were in a population with light skin pigmentation (96% of the patients were Fitzpatrick 1-2, reflecting the local hospitalized population).