Continuous Bluetooth pulse oximetry monitoring in conscious and anesthetized horses: a pilot study

To assess the feasibility, patient tolerance, and accuracy of a wireless Bluetooth pulse oximeter sensor system on horses for an extended period.

A prospective, case-control, unblinded study involved 7 horses at risk of hypoxemia and 7 healthy controls. A wireless Bluetooth transmission sensor was attached to their nostril for a prolonged period. Sensor retention time, patient tolerance, and sensor performance in capturing valid monitoring points were recorded. During the monitoring, 4 samples of arterial blood were collected, and paired measurements (SaO2) and estimations (SpO2) of oxygen hemoglobin saturation were performed. Bland-Altman analysis was used for accuracy assessment. Data are presented as median values and ranges.

Monitoring time varied between 28 and 492 minutes (median, 356 minutes), with 11 of 14 horses maintaining the sensor at the end of the observation period. The sensor was well tolerated, and valid captured data were recorded 84.66% to 100% of the time (mean, 98.17%). Forty-nine paired SaO2/SpO2 readings were analyzed, showing that the pulse oximeter overestimated SaO2 (bias, 1.16%; precision, 1.83%). Calculated accuracy root mean square was 2.15%.

The Bluetooth pulse oximetry monitoring is well tolerated, easily maintained, and shows good agreement with SaO2 measurements in nonhypoxemic horses. Further studies are needed to assess its performance under circumstances of decreased blood oxygenation.

Wireless Bluetooth pulse oximetry can be used in conscious, nonhypoxemic horses at risk of a desaturation event requiring continuous/prolonged oxygenation monitoring as an accurate alternative to blood gas analysis.