Mind the gap

J Emerg Med. 2007 Aug;33(2):131-2. doi: 10.1016/j.jemermed.2006.11.016. Epub 2007 Jun 5.

Abstract

The "oxygen saturation gap" is the difference between the calculated oxygen saturation from a standard blood gas machine and the reading from a pulse oximeter. If it is greater than 5%, the patient's hemoglobin may be abnormal, representing carbon monoxide poisoning, methemoglobinemia, or sulfhemoglobinemia. We report a case where awareness of the saturation gap led to the diagnosis of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Carbon Monoxide Poisoning / blood*
  • Carbon Monoxide Poisoning / therapy
  • Humans
  • Hyperbaric Oxygenation
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Oximetry / methods
  • Oxygen / blood*
  • Suicide

Substances

  • Oxygen