What is an indicator of adequate ventilation?

A pulse oximetry reading of 95% or higher is an important indicator of adequate ventilation because it reflects the percentage of hemoglobin in the blood that is saturated with oxygen. In an effectively ventilating patient, the oxygenation of the blood is generally sufficient to maintain a saturation level above 95%, indicating that the lungs are adequately exchanging gases and delivering oxygen to the bloodstream.

In contrast, while a pulse rate of 100-120 bpm might be normal in some situations, it does not directly assess the effectiveness of ventilation. A normal respiratory rate is helpful but can still be present in patients who are not ventilating adequately. Clear lung sounds on auscultation are also significant, as they suggest that there are no obstructions or abnormalities affecting air movement, but they do not definitively indicate that ventilation is adequate. Therefore, the reliability of pulse oximetry in providing a quantitative measure of oxygen saturation makes it a strong indicator of proper ventilation.