title: Hypoxaemia during postoperative recovery using continuous pulse oximetry.
abstract: Continuous pulse oximetry monitoring was used to determine the incidence of hypoxaemia (arterial oxygen saturation less than or equal to 90%) occurring in the first hour of postoperative recovery. Of 107 patients studied, hypoxaemia was recorded in 80%. Twenty-eight (26%) of these patients had saturations below 80%. The average frequency (i.e., the number of desaturations per patient) and the total duration of these desaturations was 7.7 desaturations and 182 seconds respectively. Intermittent measurements taken preoperatively and at 5 and 30 minutes postoperatively revealed hypoxaemia in 2%, 4% and 6% of patients respectively. In 39 patients who received oxygen therapy throughout the monitoring period, 64% experienced hypoxaemia within the first 15 minutes of recovery as opposed to only 18% in the final 15 minutes monitoring period. Of the factors assessed, only patients with a body mass index greater than 25 had an increased risk of hypoxaemia (P less than 0.01). Four patients required active intervention and ventilatory assistance. We conclude that postoperative hypoxaemia is a particularly common occurrence even in patients otherwise considered healthy. Hence, pulse oximetry should be employed routinely during recovery. Where possible, monitoring should be performed continuously for at least 45 minutes.
authors: Department of Anaesthesia, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors: L T
authors: LT
authors: Brown
authors: G J
authors: GJ
authors: Purcell
authors: F M
authors: FM
authors: Traugott
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D000762:Anesthesia Recovery Period; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009517:New South Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D010092:Oximetry / Q000295:instrumentation; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D010102:Oxygen Inhalation Therapy; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen