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The use of pulse oximetry in general practice. A prospective study in Midi-Pyrénées (France) Volume 11, issue 2, Février 2015

Authors
Faculté de Médecine Toulouse Rangueil, 133 Route de Narbonne, 31062 Toulouse - marieeve.rouge-bugat@dumg-toulouse.fr

Background: The pulse oximeter is widely used in hospital worldwide. Its use in ambulatory primary care has been little studied. The main objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of the use in the largest southern French region. Secondary objectives were to specify the reasons for the use.

Method: After a telephone survey evaluating how many surgeries were equipped with a pulse oximeter, we prospectively evaluated the practices of doctors who owned the equipment.

Results: Of the 3,140 general practitioners in Midi-Pyrenees, 67 were equipped, the vast majority in rural areas. The use of the oximeter pattern was primarily dyspnea (57%), cough (25%) and chest pain (4%). A context of chronic respiratory failure was noted in 44% of patients, no pathological context was noted in 36% of patients; 16% of patients were on long-term oxygen therapy.

Conclusion: This unit seemed useful to GPs working alone in the countryside, with insufficient chronic respiratory patients, asthmatics, and facing emergency situations. Further studies should now clarify the meaning of an oxygen saturation of normal or low level in a given clinical context in primary care.