

The perfusion index can help you determine how appropriate the application site is it can help you find the best location to attach the pulse oximeter. Simply put, the stronger your pulse is at the monitoring site (where the pulse oximeter is attached), the more accurate the readings of it will be.

The reason having a perfusion index on your pulse oximeter is a good idea is because it can help increase the accuracy of the readings which the pulse oximeter gives you in relation to your blood oxygen levels. Using the Perfusion Index with Pulse Oximeters In essence, the perfusion index is a measure of the strength of the pulse or the blood flow to a given area of the body, generally small extremities like toes, fingers, and ear lobes. Keep in mind that if you need a pulse oximeter with the perfusion index included, these extra sensors required to measure the perfusion index will also add more to the price of the pulse oximeter. With that said, most people who are in good health have no need for a pulse oximeter that includes the perfusion index, as a low perfusion index is usually associated with bad health. What is important to note is that pulse oximeter readings can be highly inaccurate if your perfusion index is too low, generally speaking, if your perfusion index is below or at 0.4%.ĭue to the lack of pulse, the pulse oximeter cannot accurately measure the amount of oxygen in the blood. The perfusion index can also be an indication of how reliable the reading from the pulse oximeter is. This is then expressed as a percentage which ranges from 0.02% to 20%. The perfusion index is calculated by dividing the pulsatile signal (AC) by the non-pulsatile signal (DC), multiplied by 100. The most widely used monitoring tool to keep track of the perfusion index is the pulse oximeter.

This might all sound very complicated, but what it really means is that the perfusion index measures the strength of the pulse at the site where the sensor is connected, which in this case is the pulse oximeter. The perfusion index represents the ratio of the pulsatile blood flow to the non-pulsatile static blood flow in the peripheral tissues and limbs, such as toes, finger tips, and ear lobes. Let’s take a look at what is a normal PI on a pulse oximeter and what it tells you. If you are recovering from COVID-19 and need advice on self-isolation and treating COVID-19 symptoms, please visit the NHS website.If you bought a pulse oximeter to use at home, a device designed to measure the amount of saturated oxygen in the blood, you might have come across the term “normal PI.” PI stands for “perfusion index,” and it is an indication of the strength of your pulse, but there is more to it than that.
#Normal pulse oximeter reading download#
Download a measurement diary by clicking here. The best way to track your heart rate and oxygen level is by taking a reading three times a day at the same time every day and keeping a diary of each reading. Be careful to identify which reading is your heart rate and which is your oxygen level.Record the highest result once the reading has not changed for five seconds.Keep the pulse oximeter in place for at least a minute, or longer if the reading keeps changing. It works best on your middle or index finger of either hand, it should not be used on your ear. Switch the pulse oximeter on and place it on your finger.Rest your hand on your chest at the level of your heart and hold it still.Make sure you have been resting for at least five minutes before taking the reading.Follow these steps to make sure the pulse oximeter gives the correct reading:
