Measurement of oxygen saturation by a pulse oximeter can be adversely affected by which of the following? 1. Hypobilirubinemia 2. Peripheral vasodilation 3. Hypothermia 4. Dapsone
a. 1 and 2 c. 3 and 4
b. 2 and 3 d. 1 and 4
ANS: C
Hypothermia causes a low perfusion state, which interferes with the accuracy of a pulse oximeter. Dapsone, an antibiotic used to treat malaria and Pneumocystis carinii, can cause increased levels of metHb, which interferes with the proper function of a pulse oximeter. Hypobilirubinemia is a low bilirubin blood level and will not interfere with a pulse oximeter. Peripheral vasodilation will cause more blood to circulate through the extremities, which is good for pulse oximetry. Periph-eral vasoconstriction will affect pulse oximetry readings because low perfusion states are associ-ated with a diminished pulsatile signal, resulting in an intermittent or absent SpO2 reading.
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