What Causes a Low Pulse Oximeter Reading in Children?

A pulse oximeter measures the amount of hemoglobin saturated with oxygen. Oxygen saturation measured by pulse oximetry (SpO2) between 96 and 100 percent are considered normal, according to nursing instructor Kathy Lawrence, M.S.N. of the University of Texas Medical Branch 23. A reading of 100 percent means that all the hemoglobin in the red blood cells is carrying oxygen molecules. Children with low oxygen saturation don't have enough oxygen in the hemoglobin, usually because of respiratory problems. Mechanical problems can also cause low readings.

Respiratory Problems

Most children with low oxygen saturation have a respiratory disorder. Any disease that interfere with oxygen flow through the lungs can cause a low oxygen saturation, including conditions such as pneumonia, croup or chronic diseases such as cystic fibrosis or bronchopulmonary disease, which makes the lungs stiff. Newborns who breathe irregularly or who have apneic periods where they stop breathing may also have low oxygen saturation. Children with asthma may have normal oxygen saturation, except when they have an asthma attack. Giving supplemental oxygen normally raises the oxygen saturation in children with respiratory disease, although severe asthma or lung damage, which narrows and constricts the tubes in the lungs, can make it difficult for oxygen to reach the lungs.

Poor Tissue Perfusion

Disadvantages of Pulse Oximetry

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If your child has poor tissue perfusion, the pulse oximeter will have difficulty reading the oxygen saturation accurately. Poor tissue perfusion means that not enough blood is flowing to an area. Extreme cold, decreased blood volume due to blood loss or dehydration, very low blood pressure, heart failure or diseases that disrupt blood flow to the arms and legs can all cause low oxygenation saturation due to poor perfusion. An irregular heartbeat can make it difficult for the pulse oximeter to record an accurate reading. If the child has a blood pressure cuff on the same arm as a pulse oximeter, the cuff interferes with blood flow when it pumps up, causing low readings.

Movement

If you're child is moving around or crying, SpO2 may be artificially low because the machine can't lock onto the signal long enough to read it. During a seizure, SpO2 will also fall, both because of decreased oxygenation and because of the child's movement. Vibrations in a moving vehicle, plane or helicopter, during a medical transport, for instance, will also interfere with readings.

Other Problems

How to Use a Finger Pulse Oximeter

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If your child has sickle cell anemia, the irregular and abnormal shapes of the red blood cells can cause SpO2 to be either too high or too low. A number of mechanical problems can also interfere with the pulse oximeter, causing low readings. Very bright light shining on the pulse oximeter can skew the readings, as can very dark nail polish on a fingernail. Dark skin color does not cause low readings, however. Pulse oximeters do not measure carbon dioxide and can't diagnose respiratory failure due to carbon dioxide retention, states S.J. Fearnley of the Department of Anaesthetics at Torbay Hospital in the United Kingdom 1.