Technical note: Evaluation of a wireless pulse oximeter for measuring arterial oxygen saturation and pulse rate in newborn Holstein Friesian calves.

This research article evaluates the effectiveness of a wireless pulse oximeter, The Radius-7 Wearable Pulse CO-Oximeter, for monitoring arterial oxygen saturation and pulse rate in newborn calves. The results show the device accurately measured these parameters in comparison with traditional methods, providing a potentially valuable tool for early detection of critical health conditions.

Overview of Pulse Oximetry in Veterinary Medicine

• The article begins by elucidating the established role of pulse oximetry in both human and veterinary medicine. It specifically highlights how this technique can be a critical tool in the detection of conditions related to oxygen supply and the cardiovascular system in farm animals.
• One innovative application of pulse oximetry is the ability to monitor fetuses during birth. This could assist in the early identification of critical situations and guide decisions on whether to initiate obstetric or life-saving interventions.
• However, the authors note that the use of pulse oximetry in ruminant medicine, in this case, calves, has largely been limited to experimental applications.

Research Objective and Procedure

• This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of The Radius-7 Wearable Pulse CO-Oximeter in monitoring vital parameters in newborn calves.
• The oximeter’s sensor was placed in the interdigital space of the calves’ front legs and fixed with a homemade latex hoof cover, and measurements were taken while the animals were lying down.
• Arterial oxygen saturation measurements taken from the oximeter were then compared with results obtained from a portable blood gas analyzer, which acted as a reference.
• An arterial blood sample for the comparison was drawn from the medial intermediate branch of the caudal auricular artery.
• In addition, the oximeter’s pulse rate measurements were compared with those captured by a heart rate belt to further assess the device’s accuracy.

Correlation and Comparison Results

• High correlation coefficients were observed between measurements obtained from the pulse oximeter and other devices. Specifically, a 93.8% correlation for oxygen saturation with the blood gas analyzer and a 97.7% correlation for the pulse rate with the heart rate belt were found.
• However, the Bland-Altman plots revealed that the device overestimated SaO by 2.95 ± 6.39%, and underestimated the pulse rate by -0.41 ± 3.18 beats per minute compared to the corresponding reference methods.

Conclusions of the Study

• Despite minor overestimation and underestimation in some parameters, the researchers concluded that the pulse oximeter is suitable for continuous monitoring of arterial oxygen saturation and pulse rates in newborn Holstein Friesian calves.
• For practical usage, specially designed technical equipment presents a requirement to attach the sensor to the calves’ legs securely.