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  • Perinatal/Neonatal Case Presentation
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Perinatal/Neonatal Case Presentation

Pulse oximetry interference in bronze baby syndrome

Journal of Perinatology volume 29, pages 828–829 (2009)Cite this article

Abstract

A case of a neonate with Rhesus hemolytic disease of the newborn who went on to develop bronze baby syndrome (BBS) is reported. During his admission, inconsistencies between pulse oximetry saturations (SpO2) and his arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) measurements raised the suspicion of interference with our SpO2 monitoring. Although bilirubin has been heavily investigated with respect to SpO2 interference, a brown pigment has been shown to be produced in patients with BBS, which exhibits spectral absorbances that may cause interference with the pulse oximeter. This needs further exploration, but highlights the need to interpret SpO2 readings with caution in neonates with BBS.

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Acknowledgements

I would like to thank Dr William W Hay Jr for his advice and support in composing this paper.

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  1. Paediatric Intensive Care Unit, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford, UK

    S A Hussain

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  1. S A Hussain
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Correspondence to S A Hussain.

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Hussain, S. Pulse oximetry interference in bronze baby syndrome. J Perinatol 29, 828–829 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2009.35

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2009.35

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