Diagnostic importance of pulse oximetry in the determination of the stage of chronic arterial insufficiency of lower extremities.

Introduction: Chronic arterial insufficiency (CAI) of lower extremities is important socio-economical and healthcare problem, due to its high incidence of morbidity, disability and mortality.

Objective: The aim of our work was to determine the diagnostic importance of pulse oximetry in the early detection of stage of lower extremities CAI based on peripheral arterial oxygen saturation of haemoglobin (SpO2).

Methods: Prospectively, we analyzed a group of 50 patients, admitted at the Vascular Department of Surgical Clinic in Nis during the period from September 2006 to October 2007, with evident symptoms and signs of different stages of lower extremities CAI verified by ultrasonography. In patients with lower extremity disorder of tissue arterial capillaries, SpO2 was determined by pulse oximetry.

Results: Using pulse oximetry, depending on the of stage of lower extremities CAI, we revealed a considerable difference in the stages of functional ischemia SpO2: Fontaine I - 95.33 +/- 1.41%, Fontaine IIa - 92.14 +/- 2.27% and Fontaine IIb - 79.67 +/- 2.73%; in stage critical ischemia SpO2: Fontaine III - 62.54 +/- 4.39% and Fontaine IV - 47.67 +/- 6.16%. In 3 patients with gangrenous foot and fingers SpO2 was immeasurable and progressive decrease in SpO2 of arterial capillaries (p < 0.01 between stages).

Conclusion: Due to the reliability and simplicity of pulse oximetry it can be a routinely used diagnostic device for patients with early determined stage of lower extremities CAI.