# CAN YOU TRUST THAT PULSE OXIMETRY READING? │ EP126

An episode of [Atomic Anesthesia](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1753488560), 28 Oct 2026, 26 min.

Audio: https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/913dd08b-3f33-4d47-b7e0-21a11a428497.mp3

🚀 Try the Atomic Anesthesia platform free for 3 days: Start your free trial Welcome to the Atomic Anesthesia podcast hosted by CRNA professor Dr. Rhea Temmermand and Co-Founder Sachi Lord. On this show, you'll hear clear, clinically grounded discussions designed for nurse anesthesia residents and CRNAs who want to feel more confident in complex pharmacology, physiology, and real-world anesthesia decision-making. Your patient's SpO2 reads 100 percent, but they were just pulled out of a house fire. Can you trust it? In Week 4 of our 12-week SEE/NCE series, we break down the assumptions behind that number so you can predict every misleading reading the boards throw at you. In this episode: • What SpO2 measures, and why a perfect number doesn't rule out anemia or low cardiac output • The Beer-Lambert law, red vs infrared light at 660 and 940 nm, and how the AC/DC ratio finds the pulse • Functional vs fractional saturation and the oxyhemoglobin curve landmarks • Why SpO2 can hide a big drop in PaO2 and can't monitor ventilation • Carboxyhemoglobin, methemoglobin and the dyes that fool the probe • Low perfusion, venous pulsation, probe site and response time Want more content like this? Become a member of our learning platform. 💜 FREE DOWNLOADS: Grab your copy of customized study plans & worksheets. • SEE/NCE Study Plan — a structured, week-by-week plan to pass your boards 💜 CONNECT: 📥 Email questions, comments or topic suggestions to Rhea or Sachi at hello@atomicanesthesia.com, follow us on social media, and sign up for our newsletter. Mentioned in this episode: 💜 PARTNERS: The Incomologists® https://theincomologists.com/ You work hard caring for others—let us take care of you. Whether you’re a W-2 employee or transitioning to a 1099 role, we understand the unique challenges healthcare professionals face, from insurance coverage to financial planning. That’s where we step in. Like you, we are a team of healthcare providers who understand your needs and help you find tailored insurance plans and financial strategies without the hassle or pressure. And we’re a partner you can rely on, today and in the future. We evaluate all available options and resources in the market to protect our clients, so contact us, and we’ll get started! - Jake Bevilacqua, CRNA (jake@theincomologists.com)

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