Medical Student Research Fellowship for Summer 2010

Mentor: Dr. Peter Szmuk
Department: Children's Medical Center Department of Anesthesiology
Room number: B3304
Mail Code: B3.02
Phone number: 214-456-6404
E-mail: Peter.Szmuk@utsouthwestern.edu
Project title: Use of the Masimo Rainbow noninvasive hemoglobin measurement for children with Sickle Cell disease and other sickle cell ß thalassemia syndromes

Human subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable): Attached protocol currently in finalization and submission process to IRB for approval.

Project Type patient-based research

Brief Description of Project: Until recently, pulse oximeters have been limited by the fact that they use two wavelengths of light to empirically estimate arterial oxygen saturation, displayed as SpO2. The use of only two wavelengths often results in serious SpO2 errors, especially in the case of patients with hemoglobinopathies. Although multiwavelength pulse oximeters have been the subject of research in the past, the first multiwavelength instruments did not reach the commercial medical market until 2005. The new 'Rainbow Technology' pulse oximeters developed by Masimo Corp. have permitted the noninvasive measurement of carboxyhemoglobin (COHb), methemoglobin (MetHb), and now total hemoglobin (Hbt). Future developments in this technology will possibly continue to measure other abnormal Hb species like fetal-Hb and sickle-Hb as well as measurement of plasma electrolytes and glucose. We used the Masimo Rainbow Radical 7 in the operating rooms at Children's Medical Center in Dallas, in two patients with sickle cell disease. Along with recording the noninvasive SpHb we sent analyzed the same blood sample with the HemoCue and/or Coulter counter. In both cases we find a good correlation (SpHb 10.1 vs. 9.9 Coulter count and 10.0 Hemocue in a 12 year old; and SpHb 11.4 vs. Hemocue 11.6 in a 10 years old with splenic sequestration). Following these two cases we intend to test the hypothesis that the SpHb correlate with the laboratory data in children with sickle cell anemia and/or other sickle cell-ß thalassemia syndromes.

Previous Research Activities or Publications with Medical Students:
Use of Vein Viewer for insertion of peripheral venous cannula in pediatric patients with difficult intravenous access - ongoing study IRB# 112008-041

An Evaluation of Efficacy of the GlideScope Cobalt Video Baton for Intubation on Children Weighing less than 10 Kilograms - ongoing study IRB# 042009-046
Medical Student Research Forum Abstract on the Use of Vein Viewer for insertion of peripheral venous cannula in pediatric patients with difficult intravenous access.