A 28-year-old woman in China who was rushed to the hospital with symptoms of a heart attack faced an unexpected delay in emergency monitoring because of her artificial nails. The incident occurred in early February 2026 in Hunan province, where doctors were unable to immediately measure her blood oxygen level using a pulse oximeter due to her long gel nails.
When the patient arrived at the hospital, clinicians began routine emergency assessment. One of the first steps was to measure her oxygen saturation, an essential vital sign during cardiac emergencies. However, the fingertip pulse oximeter failed to produce a reliable reading because the thick artificial nails blocked the device’s sensor.
Since the nails could not be removed quickly using standard hospital tools, the medical team called a professional manicurist to the hospital to remove the gel nails. Once the nails were removed, the pulse oximeter could be placed properly and doctors were able to continue monitoring the patient’s condition.
The unusual situation quickly gained attention on Chinese social media and news platforms, highlighting how cosmetic nail treatments can interfere with routine medical procedures.
As reported by myNews, Emergency physician Liu Xiao from the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine said in a video that people who regularly get manicures should consider leaving at least one fingernail free of polish so it can be used for medical monitoring in emergencies.
He also shared that he once treated a woman in her twenties who was brought to the emergency department in a comatose state. Doctors initially struggled to measure her blood oxygen level because her gel manicured nails interfered with the pulse oximeter.
During suspected heart attacks, doctors immediately check several vital signs, including blood oxygen levels. Oxygen saturation helps clinicians determine whether the body’s tissues are receiving enough oxygen and whether urgent respiratory support is required.
Pulse oximeters are commonly used for this purpose because they provide quick, non-invasive readings. The device is usually clipped onto a patient’s fingertip, where it measures oxygen levels in the blood by sending light through the nail bed.
In emergency medicine, rapid and accurate monitoring helps doctors make treatment decisions quickly. Any obstacle that prevents the device from functioning properly can delay the assessment process.1
Scientific studies have also examined how cosmetic nail products affect pulse oximeter accuracy. Research published in a peer-reviewed medical journal found that gel-based nail polish can alter oxygen saturation readings obtained through pulse oximetry.1
The study reported that gel manicures may lead to an overestimation of oxygen saturation levels. Such inaccuracies could delay the recognition of hypoxaemia, a condition in which blood oxygen levels drop below normal.1
Because of this potential interference, clinicians often recommend removing nail polish or artificial nails before surgeries or procedures that require continuous oxygen monitoring.1
The case from Hunan demonstrates how everyday cosmetic practices can sometimes create unexpected challenges in emergency settings. Hospitals rely on rapid monitoring tools such as pulse oximeters to evaluate patients quickly.
When physical barriers like artificial nails prevent these devices from functioning, healthcare providers may need to remove the obstruction or use alternative monitoring sites such as the ear or forehead.
Although such situations are uncommon, the incident highlights the importance of ensuring that medical monitoring devices can function without interference during emergencies.
1. Yek, Jia Lin Jocelyn, Hidayat Rashidi Abdullah, James Poh Shyong Goh, and Yan Wei Chan. 2019. “The Effects of Gel-Based Manicure on Pulse Oximetry.” Singapore Medical Journal 60, no. 8: 432–435. https://doi.org/10.11622/smedj.2019031.
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