GE HEALTHCARE B20, User'S Reference Manual

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B40/B20 Patient Monitor
13-8
During monitoring
Patient condition or prolonged use may require changing the sensor site periodically. Check
skin integrity, circulatory status and correct alignment and change sensor site at least every
four hours.
For patients with poor peripheral blood circulation or sensitive skin, change the site at intervals
of 30 minutes to one hour. To confirm the circulatory status, observe the size of the
plethysmographic waveform with a fixed pleth scale. Take special care of this when monitoring
small children.
If possible, do not attach the SpO
2
sensor on a limb that is used for NMT measurement or for
administrating cold infusions.
NIBP measurement and arterial blood pressure measurement
To avoid erroneous readings, do not use a blood pressure cuff or arterial blood pressure
measurement device on the same limb as the sensor.
Plethysmographic pulse wave
To get an optimal pulse wave use smaller scale indicators when using measuring sites with
poor perfusion. A small pulse wave may be a sign of impaired circulation that may require
increased attention.
Higher scale indicators together with a well defined pulse wave indicate strong circulation and
a relaxed patient.
NOTE: Always check the patient and the sensor site if the accuracy of the SpO2 values
is questionable.
Waveform quality
NOTE: For all technologies except Masimo SET.
Under normal conditions, the SpO
2
waveform corresponds to (but is not proportional to) the
arterial pressure waveform. The typical SpO
2
waveform can help the user find a sensor location
with the fewest noise spikes.
If noise (artifact) is seen on the waveform because of poor sensor placement, the
photodetector may not be flush with the tissue. Check that the sensor is secured and the tissue
sample is not too thick. Pulse rate is determined from the SpO
2
waveform, which can be
disrupted by hemodynamic pressure disturbances. Motion at the sensor site is indicated by
noise spikes in the normal waveform.
The stability of the displayed SpO
2
values can also be used as an indication of signal validity.
Removing the sensor
•
Open the sensor. Do not pull the sensor from its cable.