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Oxygen Saturation Equation:
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Oxygen saturation (SpO₂) is a measure of the amount of oxygen-carrying hemoglobin in the blood relative to the amount of hemoglobin not carrying oxygen. It is a crucial vital sign that indicates how well oxygen is being delivered to the body's tissues.
The calculator uses the oxygen saturation equation:
Where:
Explanation: The equation calculates oxygen saturation percentage based on the ratio of light absorption at different wavelengths, which corresponds to oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin.
Details: Oxygen saturation monitoring is essential for assessing respiratory function, detecting hypoxemia, monitoring patients during anesthesia, and managing various medical conditions including COPD, asthma, and COVID-19.
Tips: Enter light absorption values for both wavelengths (A and B). Both values must be positive numbers greater than zero for accurate calculation.
Q1: What is normal oxygen saturation range?
A: Normal SpO₂ levels typically range from 95% to 100%. Values below 90% are considered low and may indicate hypoxemia requiring medical attention.
Q2: How is light absorption measured?
A: Light absorption is measured using pulse oximetry, which passes two wavelengths of light (red and infrared) through tissue and measures how much light is absorbed.
Q3: What factors can affect SpO₂ readings?
A: Poor circulation, nail polish, skin pigmentation, motion artifacts, and ambient light can affect the accuracy of SpO₂ measurements.
Q4: When should oxygen saturation be monitored?
A: During surgical procedures, in critical care settings, for patients with respiratory conditions, and during physical activity at high altitudes.
Q5: Are there limitations to this calculation method?
A: This simplified calculation may not account for all variables in clinical pulse oximetry, which uses more complex algorithms and calibration curves.