The Influence of Phototherapy Lights on the Measurement of Oxygen Saturation With Pulse Oximeter in Newborns.

Each patient's oxygen saturation will be measured non-invasively via a nondisposable polyethylene neonatal probe taped to the infant's palm, toe, or dorsum of the foot. The probe will be connected to an Massimo Rad97 pulse oximeter that is standardized at the factory. It runs through an automatic systems check when turned on and needs no further calibration before being used. The oxygen saturation measurements will be considered valid when there will be a normal plethysmographic waveform, a fullscale signal strength bar, and a stable heart rate closely approximating an independent electrocardiographic (ECG) pulse rate. The pulse oximeter works by using the technology of plethsmography which allows the detection of an arterial pulse) with oximetry (which measures oxygen saturation at specific wavelengths). The pulse oximeter will be placed on each infant as already described. After a stable pulse oximeter reading was obtained, the value will be recorded ("before") and then the probe will be covered with a standard disposable diaper, shiny side up. When the reading stabilized, the value will be recorded ("during") and then the diaper will be removed.