Monday, May 7, 2012

Healthcare and the Development Gap: Pulse Oximetry


            A recent study published in the Lancet (a renowned medical journal) has recommended that all infants, upon birth, receive a special heart test using a pulse oximeter. This would help to detect flaws in heart and vein structure directly after birth and allow for early treatment of potentially deadly heart defects. While this is an excellent recommendation, several recent articles have questioned the use of this technology in the developing world.

            The supporters of encouraging new testing practices in Africa have a fair point. Sierra Leone ranks 12th in the world in infant mortality, with approximately 77 deaths per 1,000 live births – one can imagine even a small portion of those deaths must be the result of congenital heart defects. Even if it is only a small fraction, that technology must be worth investing in, correct? I mean, one can hardly even call it an investment. The average cost of a pulse oximetry test is $5-7 per infant, because the oximeter is reusable. Detecting heart problems directly after birth could be the first step to reducing the mortality rate.

            However, Sierra Leone’s problem (and the developing world’s as a whole) does not lie in detecting these potentially fatal defects. It really lies in diagnosing and treating them. Even though the name may be unfamiliar, almost all of us have had a pulse oximetry test during our lifetimes – it’s more commonly known as a blood oxygen test, using a small device that clips onto the finger to measure oxygenation. Anybody in the medical profession will know that while a pulse oximetry test can help determine the existence of a heart problem, it’s far from a diagnosis. More extensive and complex tests are required to diagnose a problem, and even if that is possible, the developing world largely does not have access to the technology to significantly treat the many different kinds of congenital heart defects.

            In short, pulse oximeters are great tools for medical teams working abroad and permanent clinics in places like Sierra Leone. They can help rule out or detect heart problems for infants (as well as children and adults), but they are not a cure-all, nor will they significantly reduce the infant mortality rate like many think. Early detection tools, from relatively cheap, simple devices like pulse oximeters to MRIs and X-ray machines, are the tip of the iceberg. They complete one part of the disease cycle – detection. They are completely necessary in the sense that the cycle could not be completed without them, but they do not solve the problem. Early detection services and devices like the Khadarlis are working to provide are necessary investments in the future of health in Sierra Leone, but by no means are they silver bullets.

Marisa N.
Volunteer Blogger | Khadarlis For Sierra Leone

1 comment:

  1. Hey hi..Just go through the post. really nice one. Thank you for sharing.

    The handy finger pulse oximeter is a compact unit containing all the necessary tools for spot checks and pulse rate reading. It is very simple and easy to use which usually operates with a single button, that’s why this type is also ideal for home, outdoor, and emergency use. They also have a pediatric fingertip pulse oximeter designed especially for children.


    Pulse OX

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