- Definition
- Physiology
- Measurement
- Pulse oximetry
- Medical significance
- See also
- References
- External links
Oxygen saturation is the fraction of [oxygen]-saturated hemoglobin relative to total hemoglobin (unsaturated + saturated) in the blood. The human body requires and regulates a very precise and specific balance of oxygen in the blood. Normal blood oxygen levels in humans are considered 95–100 percent. If the level is below 90 percent, it is considered low resulting in hypoxemia.[1] Blood oxygen levels below 80 percent may compromise organ function, such as the brain and heart, and should be promptly addressed. Continued low oxygen levels may lead to respiratory or cardiac arrest. Oxygen therapy may be used to assist in raising blood oxygen levels. Oxygenation occurs when oxygen molecules ({{chem|O|2}}) enter the tissues of the body. For example, blood is oxygenated in the lungs, where oxygen molecules travel from the air and into the blood. Oxygenation is commonly used to refer to medical oxygen saturation.
Definition
In medicine, oxygen saturation, commonly referred to as "sats", measures the percentage of hemoglobin binding sites in the bloodstream occupied by oxygen.[2] At low partial pressures of oxygen, most hemoglobin is deoxygenated. At around 90% (the value varies according to the clinical context) oxygen saturation increases according to an oxygen-hemoglobin dissociation curve and approaches 100% at partial oxygen pressures of >10 kPa. A pulse oximeter relies on the light absorption characteristics of saturated hemoglobin to give an indication of oxygen saturation.
Physiology
The body maintains a stable level of oxygen saturation for the most part by chemical processes of aerobic metabolism associated with breathing. Using the respiratory system, red blood cells, specifically the hemoglobin, gather oxygen in the lungs and distribute it to the rest of the body. The needs of the body's blood oxygen may fluctuate such as during exercise when more oxygen is required [3] or when living at higher altitudes. A blood cell is said to be "saturated" when carrying a normal amount of oxygen.[4] Both too high and too low levels can have adverse effects on the body.[5]
Measurement
An SaO2 (arterial oxygen saturation, as determined by an arterial blood gas test[6]) value below 60% indicates hypoxemia (which can also be caused by anemia). Hypoxemia due to low SaO2 is indicated by cyanosis. Oxygen saturation can be measured in different tissues:[6]
- Venous oxygen saturation (SvO2) is measured to see how much oxygen the body consumes. Under clinical treatment, a SvO2 below 90% indicates that the body is in lack of oxygen, and ischemic diseases occur. This measurement is often used under treatment with a heart-lung machine (extracorporeal circulation), and can give the perfusionist an idea of how much flow the patient needs to stay healthy.
- Tissue oxygen saturation (StO2) can be measured by near infrared spectroscopy. Although the measurements are still widely discussed, they give an idea of tissue oxygenation in various conditions.
- Peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) is an estimation of the oxygen saturation level usually measured with a pulse oximeter device. It can be calculated with pulse oximetry according to the following formula:[6]
[6]
where HbO2 is oxygenated haemoglobin and Hb is deoxygenated haemoglobin
Pulse oximetry
{{Main article|Pulse oximetry}}Medical significance
| SaO2 | Effect |
|---|---|
| 85% and above | No evidence of impairment |
| 65% and less | Impaired mental function on average |
| 55% and less | Loss of consciousness on average |
Healthy individuals at sea level usually exhibit oxygen saturation values between 96% and 99%, and should be above 94%. At 1,600 meters' altitude (about one mile high) oxygen saturation should be above 92%.[9]
An SaO2 (arterial oxygen saturation) value below 90% causes hypoxia (which can also be caused by anemia). Hypoxia due to low SaO2 is indicated by cyanosis, but oxygen saturation does not directly reflect tissue oxygenation. The affinity of hemoglobin to oxygen may impair or enhance oxygen release at the tissue level. Oxygen is more readily released to the tissues (i.e., hemoglobin has a lower affinity for oxygen) when pH is decreased, body temperature is increased, arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2) is increased, and 2,3-DPG levels (a byproduct of glucose metabolism also found in stored blood products) are increased. When the hemoglobin has greater affinity for oxygen, less is available to the tissues. Conditions such as increased pH, decreased temperature, decreased PaCO2, and decreased 2,3-DPG will increase oxygen binding to the hemoglobin and limit its release to the tissue.[10]
See also
- Arteriovenous oxygen difference
References
2. ^{{cite book|url=https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=3PJVLH1NmQAC&pg=PA370&dq=definition+of+oxygen+saturation+so2&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi42bWkksPKAhVHrD4KHfZcC0QQ6AEIIDAA#v=onepage&q=definition%20of%20oxygen%20saturation%20so2&f=false|title=Clinical Laboratory Medicine|author=Kenneth D. McClatchey|publisher=Lippincott Williams & Wilkins|location=Philadelphia|year=2002|page=370}}
3. ^{{cite web|title=Understanding Blood Oxygen Levels at Rest|url=http://www.fitday.com/fitness-articles/fitness/cardio/understanding-blood-oxygen-levels-at-rest.html#b|work=fitday.com|publisher=fitday.com|accessdate=6 June 2013}}
4. ^{{cite web|last=Ellison|first=Bronwyn|title=NORMAL RANGE OF BLOOD OXYGEN LEVEL|url=http://www.livestrong.com/article/124374-normal-range-blood-oxygen-level/|work=Livestrong.com|publisher=Livestrong.com|accessdate=6 June 2013}}
5. ^{{Cite web|url=https://www.webmd.com/asthma/guide/hypoxia-hypoxemia|title=Hypoxia and Hypoxemia: Symptoms, Treatment, Causes|website=WebMD|language=en|access-date=2019-03-11}}
6. ^1 2 3 4 {{Cite web|url=http://incenter.medical.philips.com/doclib/enc/fetch/586262/586457/Understanding_Pulse_Oximetry.pdf%3Fnodeid%3D586458%26vernum%3D2|title=Understanding Pulse Oximetry: SpO2 Concepts|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=Philips Medical Systems|access-date=19 August 2016}}
7. ^{{cite journal | vauthors = Peláez EA, Villegas ER | title = LED power reduction trade-offs for ambulatory pulse oximetry | journal = Conf Proc IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc | volume = 2007 | issue = | pages = 2296–9 | date = 2007 | pmid = 18002450 | doi = 10.1109/IEMBS.2007.4352784 }}
8. ^{{cite web |url=http://www.mastertrain.8m.com/masterimages/2013articles/may2013/Oxygen%20research%202013/Oxymoron%20Our%20Love-Hate%20Relationship%20with%20Oxygen.pdf |title=Oxymoron: Our Love-Hate Relationship with Oxygen |last=McEvoy |first=Mike |date=November 14, 2012 |website= |publisher= |access-date= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305005035/http://www.mastertrain.8m.com/masterimages/2013articles/may2013/Oxygen%20research%202013/Oxymoron%20Our%20Love-Hate%20Relationship%20with%20Oxygen.pdf |archive-date=March 5, 2016 |dead-url= yes}}
9. ^{{cite web | title = Normal oxygen level | work = National Jewish Health | publisher = MedHelp | date = February 23, 2009 | url = http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Respiratory-Disorders/Normal-oxygen-level/show/760829 | accessdate = 2014-01-28 }}
10. ^{{Cite web|url=http://www.aacn.org/WD/Practice/Docs/ch_14_PO.pdf|title=Oxygen Saturation Monitoring by Pulse Oximetry|last=Schutz|first=|date=2001|website=American Association of Critical Care Nurses|format=PDF|dead-url=yes|access-date=September 10, 2011|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120131222646/http://www.aacn.org/WD/Practice/Docs/ch_14_PO.pdf|archivedate=January 31, 2012|df=}}
External links
- Interactive haemoglobin saturation graph
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