Shivering affects the reading of a typical pulse oximeter by:
A) Making the heart rate display (if present)read too low
B) Causing a complete loss of signal (no saturation displayed)
C) Causing the saturation to be displayed as 100%
D) Forcing the saturation toward a value of 85%

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Shivering causes vasoconstriction and increases peripheral resistance, which can result in a decrease in blood flow to peripheral tissues. This can cause the pulse oximeter to interpret the decreased blood flow as a decrease in oxygen saturation, resulting in a lower reading. In order to compensate for this, many pulse oximeters will display a minimum saturation reading of 85%, even if the actual saturation is lower.

Shivering Affects the Reading of a Typical Pulse Oximeter By