[Pulse oximetry for monitoring high-risk patients. Possibilities, indications, and limits]

In our study we could discover typical images when measuring patients undergoing dental surgery by pulse oxymetry. Thereby it seems possible to estimate the operative risk and get some better information beyond clinical examination (ASA-classification). The not being well of the patient could be detected this way earlier then by clinical signs. We have to support the fact that dental treatment in local anaesthesia should be limited to 30 min. The monitoring of pulse, mean artery pressure and oxygen saturation could be made more informative by sampling dates for up to 300 sec and displaying them on a monitor. This seems to be very helpful while treating patients with higher risk in the dentist's practice.