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Updated: Aug 1, 2025

A Model to Simulate Clinically Relevant Hypoxia in Humans
Published on: December 22, 2016
Comparison between Arterial Blood Gases and Oxygen Reserve Index™ in a SCUBA Diver: A Case Report
Fabio Di Pumpo1,2, Gualtiero Meloni2, Matteo Paganini1
1Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy.
Abstract:
Hypoxia and hyperoxia are both worrisome issues potentially affecting SCUBA divers, but validated methods to monitor these two conditions underwater are still lacking. In this experiment, a volunteer SCUBA diver was equipped with a pulse oximeter to detect peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) and a device to monitor the oxygen reserve index (ORi™). ORi™ values were compared with arterial blood oxygen saturation (SaO2) and the partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) obtained from the cannulated right radial artery at three steps: at rest out of water; at -15 m underwater after pedaling on a submerged bike; after resurfacing. SpO2 and ORi™ mirrored the changes in SaO2 and PaO2, confirming the expected hyperoxia at depth. To confirm the potential usefulness of an integrated SpO2 and ORi™ device, further studies are needed on a broader sample with different underwater conditions and diving techniques.
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