Respiratory Therapist

Answer: C - Patients who have had smoke inhalation will show high oxygen saturation on pulse oximetry. These levels would be inaccurate and the patient would require high-flow oxygenation until ABG tests are performed.

The high saturation reading could be for CO instead of O₂ saturation. A pulse oximeter cannot distinguish between CO and O₂ saturation; therefore, an arterial blood gas analysis is required. An end-stage COPD patient would more than likely not have such a high saturation and to place such a patient on a high flow oxygen mask is contraindicated as it would diminish the patient’s respiratory drive. An asthmatic patient in bronchospasm would have an oxygen saturation lower than 98% on room air.