fetal pulse oximetry

shay · Jul 9, 2002

Don't have it at my hosp. yet, apparently it's being considered.

Have heard mixed reviews. The mfr, of course, says it's wonderful, but have heard (from CNMs/MDs) that in actual clinical trials it is very inaccurate.

Is it that oxipleth thingie that lies next to the baby's cheek?

Let ME know what YOU think!!!! I'm very curious....

JenniferNRN · Jul 9, 2002

One of our docs was telling us about it last year. I think he went to a seminar on it or something, but he spoke very highly of it, and suggested we get it out here. I would love to hear your opinion of it.

mark_LD_RN · Jul 9, 2002

just what we need one more intervention! :). i have talked with a few nurses about it , never actually used it yet, but they did not seem to like it much

luv l&d · Jul 9, 2002

use it alot at my place and have 3 pt in the last yr "saved" from c/s. lousy strip and pulse ox read ok so they continued to labor and have a have a vag birth. baby's apgars 8-9 every time.

imenid37 · Jul 9, 2002

thanks luv. that's good to hear. i know that's what it's supposed to do, but nice to know a real person has seen it to be true.

HazeK · Jul 16, 2002

It was the 'in' thing to do in Las Vegas...for about a week!

We had all of our monitors updated, did the inservices, learned all about it...and not one of the docs bothered to learn how to place it!

the entire box of probes and cables is gathering dust!

Haze :cool:

PS rationale for lack of use? Probably because our city has SOOOOOOO

many attorneys and sooooooooo many money-hungry clients who sue, the docs aren't willing to "stand" on the test data that would support continuing to labor a patient with a great fetal pulse oximetry and a LOUSY-LOOKING strip that would really impress a jury ...made up of folks who have nothing better to do in their lives but sit on a jury!

KRVRN, BSN, RN · Jul 16, 2002

I don't even know... Does a fetus sat 90-100% ??

luv l&d · Jul 17, 2002

the norm for a fetus is above 30% no intevention needed, have seen as high as 60, but usually 40-50%

OB4ME · Aug 8, 2002

We don't have them yet, but our Advanced Fetal Monitoring instructor did mention them briefly as another helpful tool of the future.

I wonder how fetal pulse oximetry would fare in cases of anemia, say fetal-maternal or twin-twin transfusion? (Say...before an obvious sinusoidal pattern shows up on the monitor?)

In an adult, you really should take your H+H results into consideration when doing pulse ox, as 95% of a low blood count still means you aren't getting enough oxygen.

Legally speaking...if you have a crappy strip, and your baby is compromised because of a low blood count (which you probably wouldn't know until delivery)...I think it would be tough to explain in court...

Hmmm...It will be interesting to see how the actual "real life" clinical studies turn out...

Best wishes,

Michelle