Pulse oximetry using a disposable finger sensor placed on the forehead in hypoxic patients.

Background: Disposable pulse oximetry sensors designed for the finger are sometimes placed on the forehead. Although finger sensors have not been designed to accurately measure arterial oxygen saturation when placed on other body parts, they are used on the forehead when an oximetry waveform cannot be obtained from the finger.

Objectives: The purpose of this prospective observational study was to measure the agreement between disposable transmittal sensors placed on the finger and the same sensors placed on the forehead.