The effect of patient ethnicity on the accuracy of peripheral pulse oximetry in patients with COVID-19 pneumonitis: a single-centre,retrospective analysis

Pulse oximetry is used widely to titrate oxygen therapy and for triage in patients who are critically ill. However, there are concerns regarding the accuracy of pulse oximetry in patients with COVID-19 pneumonitis and in patients who have a greater degree of skin pigmentation. We aimed to determine the impact of patient ethnicity on the accuracy of peripheral pulse oximetry in patients who were critically ill with COVID-19 pneumonitis by conducting a retrospective observational study comparing paired measurements of arterial oxygen saturation measured by co-oximetry on arterial blood gas analysis (SaO₂) and the corresponding peripheral oxygenation saturation measured by pulse oximetry (S_pO₂). Bias was calculated as the mean difference between SaO₂ and S_pO₂ measurements and limits of agreement were calculated as bias ±1.96 SD. Data from 194 patients (135 White ethnic origin, 34 Asian ethnic origin, 19 Black ethnic origin and 6 other ethnic origin) were analysed consisting of 6216 paired SaO₂ and S_pO₂ measurements. Bias (limits of agreement) between SaO₂ and S_pO₂ measurements was 0.05% (−2.21–2.30). Patient ethnicity did not alter this to a clinically significant degree: 0.28% (1.79–2.35), −0.33% (−2.47–2.35) and −0.75% (−3.47–1.97) for patients of White, Asian and Black ethnic origin, respectively. In patients with COVID-19 pneumonitis, S_pO₂ measurements showed a level of agreement with SaO₂ values that was in line with previous work, and this was not affected by patient ethnicity.     

Modern Medicine: Ideas and Advances

Considering the limitations of medical science and the risks associated with medical treatments, we need to re-examine the connotation of medical science from the perspective of philosophy. Medical science is the natural expression of human kindness and human nature of rescuing the dying and healing the wounded. It is a combination of the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities. From the perspectives of medical philosophy and humanistic care, this article expounds the concepts and ideas of evidence-based, translational, and precision medicine in modern medicine and emphasizes the importance of avoiding new technical bureaucracy, paying attention to achieving a holistic view and systematic understanding, and avoiding biases in development because of the loss of the humanistic spirit in modern medical practice.     

中西医结合精准护理在日间腹腔镜胆囊切除术围手术期的应用

目的:探讨中西医结合精准护理在日间腹腔镜胆囊切除术(laparoscopic cholecystectomy,LC)中的应用价值。方法:对2018年5月—2018年11月115例行日间LC术患者实施精准护理(观察组),并与同期住院行常规LC术患者92例(对照组)进行对比,观察组在常规护理的基础上,实施耳穴压豆联合穴位贴敷及精准护理方法,分析对比两组患者住院时间、护理满意度评分、术后疼痛评分、术后不良反应发生率等。结果:观察组住院时间、术后疼痛评分及术后不良反应发生率均明显低于对照组(P0.05),护理满意度评分明显高于对照组(P0.05)。结论:中西医结合精准护理可明显提高行日间LC术患者的护理质量,促进患者快速康复。