In which condition is the application of a pulse oximeter contraindicated?

The application of a pulse oximeter is contraindicated in Raynaud's disease due to the nature of the condition affecting blood circulation. Raynaud's disease causes vasospasm in response to cold or stress, leading to reduced blood flow in the extremities. This decreased perfusion can cause inaccurate readings on a pulse oximeter, as the device relies on adequate blood flow to measure oxygen saturation levels accurately. In this scenario, the pulse oximeter may yield falsely low readings, making it unreliable for assessing a patient’s true oxygenation status.

In contrast, while anemia, hemophilia, and chronic lung disease can also influence the interpretation of pulse oximetry readings, they do not create the same level of immediate inaccuracy due to compromised peripheral circulation seen in Raynaud's disease. Therefore, while those conditions may require careful consideration during assessment, they do not formally contraindicate the use of a pulse oximeter in the same way that impaired blood flow due to Raynaud's does.