Emergency Classification According to Fingertip Circulation

Overview

Dyspnea is one of the most common reasons for admission to the emergency department\[1\]. Oxygen saturation has great importance in determining the triage status of patients admitted to the hospital with dyspnea and planning the emergency treatment \[2\]. Peripheral perfusion index (PI), which shows tissue oxygenation is a noninvasive way of demonstrating tissue perfusion in critically ill patients. Studies have shown that PI is an accurate, fast and reliable pulse oximetry-based indicator of tissue perfusion \[3-5\]. PI shows the perfusion status of the tissue in the applied area for an instant and a certain time interval. The PI value ranges from 0.02% (very weak) to 20% (strong) \[6\]. Triage scales are used to distinguish emergency and non-emergency patients. The emergency triage system is used to quickly determine the care priorities of patients during admission to the emergency department\[7,8\]. It is important to make the triage classification for dyspnea in emergency services quickly and accurately to start the treatment protocols as early as. In this study, the investigators aimed to determine the relationship between perfusion index and the emergency triage classification in patients admitted to the emergency department with dyspnea.

Purpose: To determine the effect of PI measurement on the emergency triage classification in patients with dyspnea. Methods: Adult patients who presented with dyspnea and whose perfusion index values were measured with Masimo Radical-7 device at the time of admission, at the first hour and the second hour of admission were included in the study. The PI and oxygen saturation measured by finger probes were compared and the superiority of their effects on the emergency triage classification was compared.