Field Internship Student Data Acquisition Project. (FISDAP) Airway Practice Exam

Which of the following can cause inaccuracies in a pulse oximeter reading?

1. High blood pressure

2. Severe peripheral vasoconstriction

3. Continuous oxygen therapy

4. Normal body temperature

The correct answer is: Severe peripheral vasoconstriction

Severe peripheral vasoconstriction can lead to inaccuracies in a pulse oximeter reading because it reduces blood flow to the extremities, where the device typically obtains its readings. When blood flow is significantly compromised, the sensor may be unable to detect the proper amount of oxygenated hemoglobin in the blood, resulting in falsely low or inconsistent pulse oximeter values. In contrast, while high blood pressure and continuous oxygen therapy may affect patient conditions, they do not typically interfere directly with the functioning of the pulse oximeter. Normal body temperature is also not a factor that would cause reading inaccuracies, as pulse oximeters are designed to operate effectively across a range of physiological states.