Final answer:
The oxygen concentration during resuscitation is monitired by a pulse oximeter, which measures the baby's oxygen saturation. Normal pulse oximeter readings should range from 95-100 percent, and lower readings may require medical intervention. It's also important for determining critical factors like heart rate and respiration in a newborn's Apgar score.
Step-by-step explanation:
The oxygen concentration used during resuscitation is guided by the use of a device known as a pulse oximeter, which measures the baby's oxygen saturation. A pulse oximeter operates by projecting two different wavelengths of light (red and infrared) through a thin part of the patient's body, often the fingertip, and then measures the varying absorption by hemoglobin based on its oxygenation. This process helps determine the percent saturation of oxygen in the blood, with normal readings ranging from 95-100 percent. Values lower than this range can imply hypoxemia, indicating that the patient may require medical assistance.
Understanding the baby's oxygen levels is crucial, particularly in the context of the Apgar score, which assesses a newborn's wellbeing immediately post-birth using five criteria: skin color, heart rate, reflexes, muscle tone, and respiration. A pulse oximeter provides important feedback about the heart rate and respiration, the critical components of this evaluation. Also, a baby's metabolic rate, indicated by oxygen and carbon dioxide levels, can help detect medical conditions as well as assess overall fitness when used outside the neonatal context.