Background
To evaluate changes in pulse oximetry readings in patients with cervical carcinoma after the injection of patent blue dye
into the uterine cervix for sentinel lymph node detection.
Methods
Fifty-six patients underwent radical hysterectomy and bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy for the treatment of International
Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage I or II cervical cancer. Four milliliters of patent blue dye were injected into
the cervix. On the eve of surgery, all patients also received an injection of Dextran 500 labeled with technetium 99 m (Tc-99 m
Dextran, 600 to 800 μCi) into the cervix and subsequently underwent pelvic lymphoscintigraphy.
Results
Of the 56 patients, 1 (1.79%) had an anaphylactic reaction, and in 13 (23.22%), pulse oximetry readings were <96%. The lowest
median pulse oximetry reading in these patients was 87%. Pulse oximetry readings began to decrease between 2 and 10 minutes
after patent blue dye injection into the cervix and lasted for approximately 5 minutes. No changes in blood pressure, heart
rate, or electrocardiogram were found during the period in which this alteration was recorded by the pulse oximeter.
Conclusion
The decrease in pulse oximetry readings after patent blue dye injection into the cervix was associated with larger tumors
and tumors that surrounded the external cervical os.
Keywords Sentinel lymph node - Uterine cervix - Patent blue dye - Pulse oximetry