When monitoring a patient's response to oxygen therapy, which parameter is key?

• A. Heart rate
• B. Blood pH
• C. Oxygen saturation (SpO2)
• D. Respiratory rate

Answer: (C)

Oxygen saturation (SpO2) is a critical parameter when monitoring a patient's response to oxygen therapy because it directly reflects the amount of oxygen being transported in the blood. Maintaining adequate oxygen saturation is essential for ensuring that the body's tissues receive enough oxygen for proper functioning.

SpO2 readings typically provide real-time information about the efficiency of oxygen exchange in the lungs and can indicate a patient's respiratory status, particularly in conditions that may impact their ability to oxygenate effectively. A healthy SpO2 level usually ranges from 95% to 100%; anything below this may signal hypoxemia and require adjustments to the oxygen therapy being administered.

Heart rate, blood pH, and respiratory rate are also important vital signs that can provide insights into a patient’s overall condition. However, they do not specifically measure the effectiveness of oxygen delivery as directly as SpO2 does. While these other parameters may change in response to alterations in oxygen levels, they serve more as supportive indicators rather than direct measures of the adequacy of oxygen therapy itself.