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Pulse oximeter waveforms from the finger and toe during lumbar epidural anesthesia
1Department of Anesthesiology, Hospital For Special Surgery, Cornell University Medical College, New York, New York 10021.
Regional Anesthesia
|March 1, 1993
Summary
Lumbar epidural anesthesia can affect pulse oximeter readings. Toe readings provide more reliable pulse oximeter signals than finger readings during this procedure, potentially aiding early detection of successful epidural block.
Area of Science:
- Anesthesiology
- Medical Devices
- Physiology
Background:
- Assessing the impact of lumbar epidural anesthesia on pulse oximeter signals in different extremities.
- Investigating potential variations in signal reliability between upper and lower limbs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if lumbar epidural anesthesia influences pulse oximeter signal amplitude in the finger versus the toe.
- To evaluate the utility of toe pulse oximetry for monitoring epidural anesthesia effectiveness.
Main Methods:
- Placement of temperature and pulse oximeter probes on both a finger and a toe in 13 ASA I patients.
- Observation of pulse oximeter waveform amplitude changes following lumbar epidural anesthesia administration.
Main Results:
- Significant eight-fold increase in pulse oximeter waveform amplitude observed on the toe post-epidural injection.
- A 50% decline in pulse oximeter waveform amplitude noted on the finger.
- The rise in toe pulse amplitude preceded observable temperature changes.
Conclusions:
- Pulse oximeter signals from the toe offer greater reliability compared to the finger during lumbar epidural anesthesia.
- The augmented pulse amplitude detected at the toe may serve as an early indicator of successful epidural block.
- Toe pulse oximetry shows promise for enhanced patient monitoring during epidural procedures.