Technology augments physical examination. A physical examination is often the deciding factor between monitor error and a true change in a patient’s status.

Cardiorespiratory distress in infants and children is often associated with abnormalities in oxygenation and ventilation and, thus, requires diligent monitoring.

Pulse oximetry is an integral part of all pediatric critical care monitoring systems. A key premise of pulse oximeters is that they are capable of early identification of changes in a patient’s cardiorespiratory status, allowing for a rapid response. Recent software advances have helped to improve the clinical usefulness of this monitoring tool.