What can happen if continuous pulse oximetry is not used during anesthesia?

Continuous pulse oximetry is a critical monitoring tool during anesthesia as it provides real-time feedback on a patient’s oxygen saturation levels. If this monitoring is not in place, there is a risk that hypoxia could go unnoticed. Hypoxia, a condition where there is insufficient oxygen in the blood, can lead to severe complications including organ damage or failure, gastrointestinal ischemia, and can increase the risk of perioperative morbidity and mortality.

Without continuous monitoring, changes in the patient's oxygen saturation may not be detected promptly, delaying vital interventions that could prevent serious consequences. Thus, the failure to use continuous pulse oximetry significantly increases the risks associated with undetected hypoxia during procedures that can alter breathing or oxygen delivery. This highlights the importance of real-time monitoring to ensure patient safety throughout the anesthesia process.