Pulse oximetry. Application in the labor-and-delivery unit of a tertiary care center.

Pulse oximetry is a noninvasive early warning system capable of alerting the nursing and medical staff of the occurrence of arterial hemoglobin desaturation and resultant hypoxemia. This technology has already achieved widespread use intraoperatively, in the recovery area and in medical and surgical intensive care units. Application during labor and delivery, another acute care setting often involving emergency conditions, is a logical extension. We applied this technology in the labor-and-delivery suite. The degree of arterial desaturation (absolute percent) and range of values appear greater in pregnancy than in the pregnant woman's healthy, nonpregnant counterpart.