Pulse oximetry during ketamine anaesthesia in war conditions.
Ketamine anaesthesia with spontaneous breathing of air is a common method of anaesthesia in Red Cross hospitals for war wounded. Arterial oxygen saturation of 65 patients was measured with a portable pulse oximeter during the anaesthesia and the first 30 min of recovery. The patients were young (12-47 yr), haemodynamically stable and underwent peripheral surgery. Fifty-seven measurements were free from artefacts and were analyzed. The results showed that during induction six patients (11%) had a brief period (40-420 sec) of oxygen saturation under 90%. Two of these patients showed signs of upper airway obstruction and four breathed normally. During maintenance one patient had short periods (40-80 sec) of saturation under 90%, when he snored. No periods of desaturation occurred during the recovery period. It is concluded that arterial oxygen saturation remained acceptable when patients breathed air during ketamine anaesthesia.
Pesonen
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International Committee of the Red Cross, Geneve, Switzerland.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000771:Anesthesia, Intravenous; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007649:Ketamine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010092:Oximetry; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D012119:Respiration; D013997:Time Factors; D014857:Warfare; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000601:surgery*
D007649:Ketamine; D010100:Oxygen