Clinical usefulness of pulse oximetry in asthmatic children
Del Rió Navarro, B.E.; Briseño Pérez, C.; Sienra Monge, J.J.; Prieto Urzúa, L.; Predes Novelo, C.; Carrillo, H.
Revista Alergia Mexico 41(4): 110-114
1994
ISSN/ISBN: 0002-5151 PMID: 7982037 Document Number: 438662
Abnormalities in exchange and tendency to acidosis and hypoxemia are present in acute asthma. Oxygen arterial saturation (pulse oximetry) is a simple and useful method to evaluate oxygenation conditions. Pulse oximetry and spirometry before and after albuterol nebulization (150 mcg/kg/dose) were performed in 35 subjects. 7 to 14 years, with acute asthma, 68% were mild and the rest moderate. Oxygen saturation before nebulization was less than 90% in 30 children and increased in 27 of them (90%). Spirometry before nebulization showed FEV1 20% predictive values in 18 children and increased in 10 of them. Seven were hospitalized because of worse symptoms. 4 of them showed metabolic acidosis by the presence of lactate. We conclude that pulse oximetry is a useful and simple method for an objective evaluation of acute asthma and its complications, but it is not predictive for a therapeutic decision.