Monitoring of arterial hemoglobin saturations by pulse oximetry has become a fixture in neonatal and pediatric intensive care units, operating rooms, and in other hospital settings. Use with extremely premature neonates is especially beneficial because of their immature skin development and vulnerability to topical damage—whether due to chemicals, tape, or temperature.1,2 This report documents a case of a burn due to a presumed shorting of a pulse oximeter probe cable in an extremely premature neonate.
CASE REPORT
The patient was a 690-g Hispanic female neonate born prematurely at approximately 25 weeks' gestation with respiratory distress syndrome requiring mechanical ventilation and supplemental oxygen.