Journal of perinatology : official journal of the California Perinatal Association
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The reliability of pulse oximetry in neonates receiving inotropic drugs because of hypotension and microcirculatory perfusion failure has not been well documented. Signal loss of the pulse oximeter in adult patients receiving dopamine infusions has been reported. To evaluate the relationship between pulse oximeter oxygen saturation (SaO2) and co-oximeter directly measured oxygen saturation, we studied 30 infants in the first 4 days of life (birth weight 620 to 4285 gm, gestational age 26 to 43 weeks) receiving dopamine (30 patients) and dobutamine (10 infants). ⋯ The dosage of dopamine ranged from 4 to 28 micrograms/kg per minute and the dosage of dobutamine varied from 4 to 24 micrograms/kg per minute. Over a wide range of values for mean blood pressure (23 to 66 mm Hg), partial pressure of oxygen at 90% hemoglobin saturation (43.1 to 70.2 mm Hg), and oxygen saturation (SaO2 80% to 100%), linear regression analysis revealed a close correlation between pulse oximeter SaO2 and co-oximeter SaO2 values (r = 0.83, standard error of the estimate 2.2%, p < 0.0001). Our findings indicate that pulse oximetry can be used reliably for continuous oxygen monitoring in normotensive neonates with an SaO2 of 80% to 100% who are receiving dopamine and dobutamine.