With the continuous advancement of technology in neonatal intensive care units, blood oxygen probes have become an important tool for monitoring the health status of newborns. It assesses the respiratory and circulatory system functions of infants by measuring the oxygen saturation (SpO₂) in the blood. Blood oxygen probes are usually placed on the palms or soles of newborns. However, due to the delicate skin and low blood flow of newborns, measurements in these areas are sometimes limited. Therefore, researchers began to explore other possible probe placement sites, including wrists and ankles.
In neonatal care, accurate oxygen saturation measurement is essential for timely detection and treatment of possible respiratory or circulatory problems. The basic principle of blood oxygen probe is to measure the proportion of oxygenated hemoglobin in the blood through a photoelectric sensor. Since the vascular structure and skin characteristics of newborns are different from those of adults, measurements at different locations may affect the accuracy of the results. Therefore, it is of great clinical significance to explore the feasibility and accuracy of placing probes at the wrists and ankles.
Based on the study by Phattraprayoon et al. in 2011, this paper aims to compare the blood oxygen concentration measurement results of the wrist and the palm of the same side, and the ankle and the sole of the same side in newborns. By analyzing the correlation and consistency between these different measurement sites, it is evaluated whether the wrist and ankle can be used as effective alternative measurement sites.
The study involved 150 newborns admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit. The researchers used blood oxygen probes to measure SpO₂ on the palm and ipsilateral wrist, and on the sole and ipsilateral ankle. Measurements were taken at the beginning, 30 seconds, and 1 minute. Using statistical methods, such as regression analysis and Bland-Altman plots, the research team analyzed the relationship between paired blood oxygen concentration measurements and calculated the mean difference and standard deviation.
The study found a high correlation between SpO₂ measurements at the palms and wrists, and similarly, significant correlations between measurements at the soles of the feet and ankles. These results show that wrist and ankle measurement readings are in good agreement with traditional palm and sole readings.
Through the calculation and data analysis of the research results, whether it is the wrist or ankle, the difference and accuracy of the blood oxygen concentration measurement results at the wrist and ankle are within a reasonable range and can meet the clinical monitoring requirements.
Using the wrist and ankle as sites for blood oxygen probe placement has several potential advantages in clinical monitoring. First, the skin in these areas is thicker and blood flow is relatively high, potentially providing more stable readings. Second, the wrist and ankle provide additional options for those infants with limitations on the palms and soles of the feet, such as skin lesions, injuries, or positional limitations. Additionally, in emergency situations, obtaining SpO₂ readings quickly and accurately is critical for medical decision-making. By increasing the choice of measurement sites, medical staff can respond to various situations more flexibly.
However, the research also points to potential limitations. For example, because the wrists and ankles are measured further eccentrically than the palms and soles of the feet, they may be affected by external factors such as temperature changes and external pressure. Furthermore, the choice of measurement site may need to be tailored to individual circumstances. For example, premature infants may require special attention due to their incompletely developed skin and vascular systems.
Taken together, this study provides valuable data on pulse oximetry measurements at the wrist and ankle of neonates. The results showed good agreement between wrist and ankle SpO₂ measurements and traditional palm and sole results. Based on these findings, the wrist and ankle can serve as effective alternative measurement sites, especially when traditional sites are unavailable or difficult to measure. Future studies can further explore the applicability of these measurement sites in different clinical situations to optimize monitoring methods in neonatal care.
With the continuous advancement of technology in neonatal intensive care units, blood oxygen probes have become an important tool for monitoring the health status of newborns. It assesses the respiratory and circulatory system functions of infants by measuring the oxygen saturation (SpO₂) in the blood. Blood oxygen probes are usually placed on the palms or soles of newborns. However, due to the delicate skin and low blood flow of newborns, measurements in these areas are sometimes limited. Therefore, researchers began to explore other possible probe placement sites, including wrists and ankles.
In neonatal care, accurate oxygen saturation measurement is essential for timely detection and treatment of possible respiratory or circulatory problems. The basic principle of blood oxygen probe is to measure the proportion of oxygenated hemoglobin in the blood through a photoelectric sensor. Since the vascular structure and skin characteristics of newborns are different from those of adults, measurements at different locations may affect the accuracy of the results. Therefore, it is of great clinical significance to explore the feasibility and accuracy of placing probes at the wrists and ankles.
Based on the study by Phattraprayoon et al. in 2011, this paper aims to compare the blood oxygen concentration measurement results of the wrist and the palm of the same side, and the ankle and the sole of the same side in newborns. By analyzing the correlation and consistency between these different measurement sites, it is evaluated whether the wrist and ankle can be used as effective alternative measurement sites.
The study involved 150 newborns admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit. The researchers used blood oxygen probes to measure SpO₂ on the palm and ipsilateral wrist, and on the sole and ipsilateral ankle. Measurements were taken at the beginning, 30 seconds, and 1 minute. Using statistical methods, such as regression analysis and Bland-Altman plots, the research team analyzed the relationship between paired blood oxygen concentration measurements and calculated the mean difference and standard deviation.
The study found a high correlation between SpO₂ measurements at the palms and wrists, and similarly, significant correlations between measurements at the soles of the feet and ankles. These results show that wrist and ankle measurement readings are in good agreement with traditional palm and sole readings.
Through the calculation and data analysis of the research results, whether it is the wrist or ankle, the difference and accuracy of the blood oxygen concentration measurement results at the wrist and ankle are within a reasonable range and can meet the clinical monitoring requirements.
Using the wrist and ankle as sites for blood oxygen probe placement has several potential advantages in clinical monitoring. First, the skin in these areas is thicker and blood flow is relatively high, potentially providing more stable readings. Second, the wrist and ankle provide additional options for those infants with limitations on the palms and soles of the feet, such as skin lesions, injuries, or positional limitations. Additionally, in emergency situations, obtaining SpO₂ readings quickly and accurately is critical for medical decision-making. By increasing the choice of measurement sites, medical staff can respond to various situations more flexibly.
However, the research also points to potential limitations. For example, because the wrists and ankles are measured further eccentrically than the palms and soles of the feet, they may be affected by external factors such as temperature changes and external pressure. Furthermore, the choice of measurement site may need to be tailored to individual circumstances. For example, premature infants may require special attention due to their incompletely developed skin and vascular systems.
Taken together, this study provides valuable data on pulse oximetry measurements at the wrist and ankle of neonates. The results showed good agreement between wrist and ankle SpO₂ measurements and traditional palm and sole results. Based on these findings, the wrist and ankle can serve as effective alternative measurement sites, especially when traditional sites are unavailable or difficult to measure. Future studies can further explore the applicability of these measurement sites in different clinical situations to optimize monitoring methods in neonatal care.
