title: Decreases in arterial oxygen saturation in paediatric outpatients during transfer to the postanaesthetic recovery room.
abstract: Arterial oxygen saturation was measured by pulse oximetry in two groups of paediatric outpatients breathing room air during transport from the operating room to the postanaesthetic recovery room. In Group I (n = 60) readiness for transfer from OR to PARR was decided clinically. In Group II (n = 50) additional criteria of oxygen saturation (SaOe) greater than or equal to 98 per cent with end-tidal gas N2O less than or equal to 10 per cent and CO2 less than or equal to 45 mmHg were met. A higher incidence of desaturation (SaO2 less than or equal to 90 per cent) occurred in Group I (27 per cent) than in Group II (eight per cent) (P less than 0.05). More children under 2 yr desaturated in Group I (50 per cent) than Group II (17 per cent) (P greater than 0.05 less than 0.10). Twenty-two patients in each group had a recent history of upper respiratory tract infections. In these patients, desaturation was more marked in those in Group I (32 per cent) than in Group II (five per cent) (P less than 0.05). Within each group, the incidence of desaturation during transport was similar in patients with or without a recent URI.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia, Montreal Children's Hospital, Quebec.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chripko
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Bevan
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Archer
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bherer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures; D000762:Anesthesia Recovery Period; D000769:Anesthesia, Inhalation; D001785:Blood Gas Monitoring, Transcutaneous; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010092:Oximetry; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D014187:Transportation of Patients
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen