Oximetry

Oximetry is a non-invasive method used to monitor the level of oxygen saturation in a patient's blood. It is a simple, painless measure of how well oxygen is being sent to parts of the body furthest from the heart, such as the arms and legs.

Overview

Oximetry is often used in a variety of settings such as in hospitals, medical clinics, and in home care. It is commonly used in the assessment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pneumonia, asthma, and heart failure.

Types of Oximetry

There are several types of oximetry, including pulse oximetry, transcutaneous oximetry (TcPO2), and venous oximetry.

Pulse Oximetry

Pulse oximetry is the most common type of oximetry. It involves a small device that clips onto a body part, like toes or an earlobe, and measures the amount of oxygen in the blood.

Transcutaneous Oximetry

Transcutaneous oximetry (TcPO2) is a method used to determine the oxygen level in the tissues below the skin. This is often used in wound healing assessment and hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

Venous Oximetry

Venous oximetry is a method used to measure the amount of oxygen in the venous blood. This is often used in the assessment of heart failure and other cardiac conditions.

See Also

• Blood gas test
• Hypoxia (medical)
• Hyperoxia

References

Oximetry Resources
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