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TECHNOLOGY, COMPUTING, AND SIMULATION

A Pilot Study of Neonatal and Pediatric Esophageal Pulse Oximetry

Panayiotis A. Kyriacou, PhD^*, Deric P. Jones, PhD^*, Richard M. Langford, MBBS, FRCA, and Andy J. Petros, MBBS, FFARCSI

From the *School of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences, City University, London, EC1V 0HB, UK; St. Bartholomew's Hospital, Bart's and The London NHS Trust, London, EC1A 7BE, UK; and Paediatric and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children Great Ormond Street London WC1N 3JH, UK.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr Panayiotis A Kyriacou, School of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences, City University, London, EC1V 0HB, UK. Address e-mail to p.kyriacou{at}city.ac.uk.

BACKGROUND: In this pilot study we explored the suitability of the esophagus as a new measuring site for blood oxygen saturation (Spo₂) in neonates.

METHODS: A new miniaturized esophageal pulse oximeter has been developed. Five patients (one child and four neonates) were studied.

RESULTS: Spo₂ values were obtained in the esophagus of all patients. A Bland and Altman plot of the difference between Spo₂ values from the esophageal pulse oximeter and a commercial toe pulse oximeter against their mean showed that the bias and the limits of agreement between the two pulse oximeters were +0.3% and +1.7% to –1.0%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that the esophagus can be used as an alternative site for monitoring blood oxygen saturation in children and neonates.