Need to find a pulse/ox monitor

January 15, 2008 1:27 PM

Pulse-Ox monitors (the little dealies that fit over your finger and measure oxygen saturation in the blood). Need to buy one for an asthmatic person. What are reputable brand names, places to order, etc? I'm in Canada, so shipping availability to Canada is essential (if ordered online), or local resources in Toronto.
posted by dirtynumbangelboy to health (7 comments total)

I know this is not the answer you were looking for, but using a pulse oximeter at home to monitor asthma is generally considered a bad idea in the absence of other complicating factors. This is particularly in light of the fact that regular peak flow assessment is a far better predictor of asthma attacks, as well as the need for bronchodilator therapy or even hospitalization.

Moreover, relying on oximetry can quite frequently lead to both over- and underestimation of the severity of an asthma attack. For one, these devices are notoriously finicky and often fail to capture reliable arterial light absorbance leading to reports of low oxygen saturation when the saturation may be normal. Without a device that at least shows the pulse waveform, interpreted by an experienced user, it's hard to know when this is the case, and such a device doesn't come cheap. More concerning is the fact that plenty of patients can develop respiratory acidosis and hypercarbic respiratory failure with hypoxia as a late sign, at which point it is far too late to be seeking help.

There are certainly some cases wherein home oximetry might be useful but I urge you to discuss this with a pulmonologist before pursuing such a purchase.
posted by drpynchon at 2:03 PM on January 15 [2 favorites]

I have one for my BPD kid. Ours was prescribed by the pulmonologist and we obtained ours through a medical supply company with the benefit of insurance, which paid for virtually all of our meter. Even in Canada I would imagine you should work with your patient's doctor for insurance purposes, or at the very least for making sure you get a good one.
posted by norm at 3:23 PM on January 15

drpynchon, I MeMailed you. While it wasn't necessarily the answer I was looking for, it's most likely one that I needed. Thank you.

Thank you also, norm.
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 8:14 PM on January 15

I'm with drpynchon... see a doctor. I used to work at a medical supply company in the US and we couldn't sell pulse ox units to an individual without a valid prescription.

That aside, the type you need may depend on the size of the person who will be using it and how long you anticipate they will need it:
-- There are single piece units like the Digit, which are small and handy. However, units like this don't fit smaller fingers very well (even though they say they can be used for pediatrics). The sensor is at the end opposite the finger hole, so if your finger isn't long enough, it could result in inaccurate readings. When I was selling them, the Digit could not be repaired. If it broke within the first year, we could replace it under the manufacturer's warranty. After the first year, you would have to buy a new one. A unit like this would probably be about $300 to $400 US.
-- The larger, hand-held units usually come with a standard (adult) finger clip probe, but that can be switched for a wrap or Y probe to fit a specific user. The unit I linked to is by BCI. In my experience in the field, I would always hear from customers that had their BCI units for 5, 10, or even 12+ years. You can order parts as small as a battery clip to repair the unit on your own, or have it sent in to the manufacturer for service. The initial unit would probably be $600 to $700 US. The replacement probes can range from $150 to $230, depending on the type.

Although I linked to Smiths Medical, I've never been affiliated with that company. My prices are about a year old, but should still be fairly accurate. The prices on these units never changed while I was working at my old company. MeMail or email me if you'd like any more info
posted by youngergirl44 at 9:03 PM on January 15

Hoo boy, yeah. When an asthmatic person starts desatting, they better not still be sitting around at home, because that's way, way too late. Talk about your false sense of security.
posted by ikkyu2 at 12:28 AM on January 16

Don't forget also that conditions like anemia can really mess with a pulse ox. You could have a 99 or 100 reading but not be getting enough oxygen because there isn't enough hemoglobin to move the appropriate amount of oxygen to the cells.
posted by norm at 7:22 AM on January 16

That's intended behavior on the part of the pulse ox, norm. If it didn't behave that way it wouldn't be working right.
posted by ikkyu2 at 12:13 PM on January 16