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Identifying Airway Obstructions Using Photoplethysmography (PPG)

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Abstract

Objective. Central and obstructive apneas are sources of morbidity and mortality associated with primary patient conditions as well as secondary to medical care such as sedation/analgesia in post-operative patients. This research investigates the predictive value of the respirophasic variation in the noninvasive photoplethysmography (PPG) waveform signal in detecting airway obstruction. Methods. PPG data from 20 consenting healthy adults (12 male, 8 female) undergoing anesthesia were collected directly after surgery and before transfer to the Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU). Features of the PPG waveform were calculated and used in a neural network to classify normal and obstructive events. Results. During the postoperative period studied, the neural network classifier yielded an average (±standard deviation) 75.4 (±3.7)% sensitivity, 91.6 (±2.3)% specificity, 84.7 (±3.5)% positive predictive value, 85.9 (±1.8)% negative predictive value, and an overall accuracy of 85.4 (±2.0)%. Conclusions. The accuracy of this method shows promise for use in real-time monitoring situations.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College, Hanover, USA

    Bethany R. Knorr-Chung PhD & Susan P. McGrath PhD

  2. Department of Anesthesia, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, USA

    George T. Blike MD

  3. 10 Center Drive, MSC 1416, Building 10 Room 5D38, Bethesda, MD, 20892-1416, USA

    Bethany R. Knorr-Chung PhD

Authors
  1. Bethany R. Knorr-Chung PhD
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  2. Susan P. McGrath PhD
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  3. George T. Blike MD
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Correspondence to Bethany R. Knorr-Chung PhD.

Additional information

Knorr-Chung BR, McGrath SP, Blike GT. Identifying airway obstructions using Photoplethysmography (PPG).

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Knorr-Chung, B.R., McGrath, S.P. & Blike, G.T. Identifying Airway Obstructions Using Photoplethysmography (PPG). J Clin Monit Comput 22, 95–101 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10877-008-9110-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10877-008-9110-7

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