Patient Monitoring Techniques Flashcards

A patient pulse oximeter reads 91% SpO2 during sedation. The FIRST clinical response should be:

Answer: Stimulate the patient, increase oxygen flow, and assess airway patency

SpO2 below 94 percent requires immediate action: stimulate the patient, verify airway patency, increase oxygen delivery, and assess breathing - do not wait.

The NIBP (non-invasive blood pressure) cuff should be applied to which site for routine sedation monitoring?

Answer: Upper arm, 2 to 3 cm above the antecubital fossa

The standard NIBP cuff placement is on the upper arm with the lower cuff edge 2 to 3 cm above the antecubital fossa, aligning the bladder over the brachial artery.

Which ECG lead is most commonly monitored during office-based dental sedation for routine rhythm detection?

Answer: Lead II

Lead II is parallel to the cardiac electrical axis and provides the clearest P-wave and QRS morphology for rhythm analysis during routine monitoring.

Precordial stethoscope monitoring during sedation provides continuous assessment of:

Answer: Heart and breath sounds simultaneously

A precordial or esophageal stethoscope transmits both cardiac and pulmonary sounds simultaneously.

Which factor most commonly causes falsely LOW pulse oximetry readings (SpO2 underestimation)?

Answer: Peripheral vasoconstriction and poor perfusion to the probe site

Peripheral vasoconstriction from hypothermia, hypotension, or vasopressors reduces pulsatile blood flow at the probe site, causing low signal quality and falsely low or unreliable SpO2 readings.

The normal resting respiratory rate for a healthy adult is:

Answer: 12 to 20 breaths per minute

Normal adult respiratory rate at rest is 12 to 20 breaths per minute. Values below 10 or above 24 during sedation warrant immediate assessment.