Upper extremity arteriovenous fistula does not affect pulse oximetry readings.

Aim: Arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is usually surgically created in a patient's upper extremity to provide adequate blood flow during haemodialysis. Blood flow distal to an AVF is altered and theoretically could change pulse oximetry (SpO2) reading, systemic blood pressure and skin temperature. The authors conducted a prospective case-control study to measure changes in these parameters in the upper extremity of patients who have had an AVF.

Methods: In patients with an upper extremity AVF, the authors conducted a prospective case-control study using the patient's own non-AVF upper extremity as the control. The authors evaluated other factors that may have influenced blood flow changes distal to an AV fistula like gender, presence of AVF aneurysm, peripheral vascular disease, diabetes mellitus and vasodilator therapy.

Results: Thirty patients were enrolled, skin temperature and blood pressure were significantly altered in the hand distal to the AVF, but there was no significant change in the SpO2.

Conclusion: An upper extremity AVF alters blood pressure and temperature measurements when compared with the contralateral non-AVF side, but there is no difference in SpO2 provided an adequate signal quality is detected.