Maintenanc e of adequate oxygenation and circulation of oxygenated blood has always been the primary goal of the anesthetist. Transcutaneous measurement of oxygen has been associated with several problems, including the inevitable first-degree burn due to heating of the skin, relatively slow response time, and interference with the sensor by anesthetic agents as well as motion. Pulse oximetry provides 'real time' measures of oxygenation, and the early detection of developing changes in oxygen saturation allows the anesthetist to intervene before the development of life-threatening hypoxemia. The review examines recent uses of this technology and how the anesthetist may use it to assess parameters other than simple oxygenation. Recent information on non-operating room applications will also be reviewed
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