Low O2 sat

[Liz21]

what does it mean when theres a low o2 sat? what causes it? whats happening when there is a low o2 sat?

[mkblakley07]

Aren't normals for O2 sat 95%-100%? That's what it says in my fundamentals textbook... It's the previous edition, but that's what it says. But my Health Assessment textbook says that anything under 90% is considered abnormal...hmmm

how are your patients lung sounds? when he/she coughs, can she get rid of the sputum? If not, maybe the low 02 levels are related to ineffective airway clearance.

just my

[GeneralJinjur]

Aren't normals for O2 sat 95%-100%? That's what it says in my fundamentals textbook... It's the previous edition, but that's what it says. But my Health Assessment textbook says that anything under 90% is considered abnormal...hmmm

This depends on the patient and your altitude. In Colorado, we're happy with a 93. OTOH, if it's a patient with emphysema, you don't want them saturated at 100%. That may be what your Assessment text is referencing.

[morte, LPN, LVN]

old post alert! and age needs to be taken in to account, that is the age of the patient, not the post,lol

[Valerie Salva, BSN, RN]

if a person is very lethargic, weak, fatigue..can this cause a low o2 sat?

No- these things do not cause a low sat- they can result from a low sat.

Most of the time, and in most situations with most pts, a sat of 92% is not a problem.