[The use of pulse oximetry in the perioperative monitoring of pediatric patients at risk using the surgical correction of a laparoschisis as an example].

Pulse oximetry has been recently introduced into anesthetic practice as an additional monitoring technique. In contrast to other methods (ECG, inspection, auscultation, blood gas analysis), it immediately detects an impending lack of oxygen, whatever its cause. Therefore, especially in pediatric risk patients, precious time can be saved. This is illustrated during the perioperative period for correction of gastroschisis. Even with a critical look at the mishaps of this method - overestimation of true O2 saturation (sO2) and partial O2 saturation (psO2) and overestimation of hemoglobin derivatives--pulse oximetry seems superior to the established monitoring techniques in the perioperative period. Therefore, we believe pulse oximetry to be an useful tool for additional monitoring, especially in pediatric risk patients. It is a suitable continuous and noninvasive in vivo technique for the early detection of hypooxygenation. Due to the special disadvantages of the method, we consider it advisable to perform control measurements with a CO-oximeter from time to time.