Abstract

ABSTRACT: The management of pediatric upper airway disorders requires rapid assessment of the patients status and prompt airway support. The recent development and popularity of pulse oximetry in the management of patients haying general, anesthesia for surgical procedures has proved the efficacy of this technology. The University of South Alabama Division of Otolaryngology has managed 18 children with upper airway disorders over the past year using pulse oximetry as adjunctive monitoring. The outcome was excellent in all 18 cases. The second-to-second monitoring of oxyhemoglobin saturation provided excellent measurement of the patients ventilatory status. The advantages include noninvasive monitoring, serial second-to-second display, easy interpretation by nursing personnel, absence of false-negative results, and excellent patient acceptance.