can a pulse oximeter detect dead space in lungs

Follow your health care provider’s recommendations about when and how often to check your oxygen levels.Recommendations for Patients and Caregivers How to take a reading: Patients with conditions such as COVID-19 who monitor their condition at home should pay attention to all signs and symptoms of their condition and communicate any concerns to their health care provider. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is informing patients and health care providers that although pulse oximetry is useful for estimating blood oxygen levels, pulse oximeters have limitations and a risk of inaccuracy under certain circumstances that should be considered. The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused an increase in the use of pulse oximeters, and a recent report ( Sjoding et al.) suggests that the devices may be less accurate in people with dark skin pigmentation. The FDA will share with the public any additional updates to the information and recommendations below.

The FDA is reviewing the committee’s recommendations and will consider additional actions as needed.

On November 1, 2022, the FDA convened a virtual public meeting of the CDRH Anesthesiology and Respiratory Therapy Devices Panel of the Medical Devices Advisory Committee to share information and perspectives from interested parties about ongoing concerns that pulse oximeters may be less accurate in individuals with darker skin pigmentations.

Can a pulse oximeter detect dead space in lungs