An Unusual Cause of Low Oxygen Saturation in the Operating Room

Title: An Unusual Cause of Low Oxygen Saturation in the Operating Room

Volume: 2 Issue: 3

Author(s): Joseph Varon, Pilar Acosta and Ross Reul

Affiliation:

Keywords: Hypoxemia, methemoglobin, acidosis, methylene blue, methemoglobinemia

Abstract: Pulse oximetry is commonly used in clinical practice as an indirect monitor of blood oxygen saturation. There are many factors, however, that can interfere with accurate readings. We present a case of a woman with metastatic thyroid cancer that had a sudden drop in her pulse oximetry during bronchoscopy and that eventually was found to have an uncommon cause for a misleading persistently low oxygen saturation.

Cite this article as:

Varon Joseph, Acosta Pilar and Reul Ross, An Unusual Cause of Low Oxygen Saturation in the Operating Room, Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews 2006; 2(3) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/157339806778018917