JOURNAL ARTICLE
RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL
Add like
Add dislike
Add to saved papers

Artificial acrylic finger nails may alter pulse oximetry measurement.

Resuscitation 2007 July
INTRODUCTION: Pulse oximetry is the most common technique to monitor oxygen saturation (SpO(2)) during intensive care therapy. However, intermittent co-oximetry is still the "gold standard" (SaO(2)). Besides acrylic nails, numerous other factors have been reported to interfere with pulse oximetry. Data of measurements with artificial finger nails are not sufficiently published.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective clinical-experimental trial in mechanically ventilated and critically ill patients of an ICU was performed. Patients were randomly assigned to either group S (S: Siemens pulse oximeter) or group P (P: Philips pulse oximeter) prior to the measurements. SpO(2) was determined in each patient three times alternately in standard ((N)SpO(2)) and sideways position at the natural nail ((N90)SpO(2)). For the reference measurements oxygen saturation was measured by means of a haemoximeter (co-oximetry). Thereafter, SpO(2) was obtained at the acrylic finger nail in the same way ((A)SpO(2) and (A90)SpO(2)). Bias was calculated as DeltaS=(N)SpO(2)-SaO(2) and DeltaS=(A)SpO(2)-SaO(2). Accuracy (mean difference) and precision (standard deviation) were used to determine the measurement discrepancy. P<0.05 was considered significant.

RESULTS: Accuracy and precision without acrylic nails applied were comparable to SaO(2) in both groups (n.s.). With acrylic nails applied a bias of DeltaS=-1.1+/-3.14% for group S (P=0.00522) and a bias of DeltaS=+0.8+/-3.04% for group P was calculated (n.s.).

CONCLUSION: Acrylic finger nails may impair the measurement of oxygen saturation depending on the pulse oximeter used and may cause significant inaccuracy. Hence, removal of artificial acrylic finger nails may be helpful to assure an accurate and precise measurement with pulse oximetry.

Full text links

We have located links that may give you full text access.
Can't access the paper?
Try logging in through your university/institutional subscription. For a smoother one-click institutional access experience, please use our mobile app.

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app

Mobile app image

Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app

All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright © 1994-2024 by WebMD LLC.
This website also contains material copyrighted by 3rd parties.

By using this service, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy.

Your Privacy Choices Toggle icon

You can now claim free CME credits for this literature searchClaim now

Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app