Abstract
Introduction: Pulse oximetry is a convenient method of monitoring oxygen saturation (SpO2). Pulse oximeter probes have been reported to be associated with injuries in neonates. Objectives: This study was conducted with the objective of examining whether application of a protective covering influences values of SpO2. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in the Department of Neonatology, BSMMU, Dhaka over a period of one year. Hospitalized 140 neonates within 28 postnatal days were included in the study. Neonates with major congenital malformation, heart disease, severe anemia, shock and deep jaundice were excluded. Readings of SpO2 were taken on right foot and right hand directly and through micropore by researcher himself when the saturation display was steadied. Results: The mean readings of SpO2 on foot directly and through micropore were 94.5±3.4% and 94.2±3.4% respectively. On right hand, the values were 94.3±3.3% and 94.5±3.3% respectively. For each of the 13 subgroups formed on the basis of gestational age, weight and postnatal age of the newborns, oximetry readings of two sites i.e. hand and foot were compared using t test and 95% confidence interval. Thus there were in all 26 statistical comparisons. Of these, in 22 comparisons the differences in the reading with micropore and without micropore were found statistically not significant. In the remaining 4, differences in 2 cases were significant at 0.04 and 0.05 level. The paired mean differences between readings of SpO2 by pulse oximeter without micropore and with micropore on foot (0.25±1.11) and hand (0.22±1.12) were very similar to paired mean difference of SpO2 readings by direct method (0.15±1.22) on hand and foot and were within this limit. Conclusions: The work concluded that the micropore protective covering did not influence oxygen saturation readings, suggesting that a covering can be satisfactorily used for protection of neonates from probe related injuries.

Key words: Evaluation, oxygen saturation, pulse oximetry, protective covering, neonate.