BACKGROUND:

Pulse oximetry estimates the arterial oxygen saturation by absorption of an infrared light beam by oxyhemoglobin.

OBJECTIVE:

To determine the intraclass validity and reliability of five pulse oximeters commonly used in clinical practice.

MATERIAL AND METHOD:

A cross-sectional analytical study was done from January 1st 2015 to October 30 2016, including patients over 18 years old, with arterial line for blood gas sample and simultaneously oxygen saturation was measured with 5 pulse oximeters commonly used. Medians and percentages of the 5 pulse oximeters were determined by Friedman’s test

RESULTS:

There were included 101 patients, 63 men and 38 women, with similarity in the measurements performed by each pulse oximeter with p = 0.08; all oximeters were positively correlated against the standard gold test (Pearson’s correlation). Oximeter 1: r = 0.90; oximeter 2: r = 0.64; oximeter 3: r = 0.57; oximeter 4: r = 0.84 and oximeter 5: r = 0.89. The area under the curve showed oximeter 1 (0.89), oximeter 2 (0.88), oximeter 3 (0.87), oximeter 4 (0.83), oximeter 5 (0.85) with p < 0.05.

CONCLUSIONS:

The pulse oximeter number 1 shows a better performance when compared to the gasometry. When the oximeters are compared to each other the performance is the same.

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