title: The prevalence of hypoxemia detected by pulse oximetry during recovery from anesthesia.
abstract: Pulse oximetry was used to assess the prevalence of hypoxemia (arterial oxygen saturation of 90% or less) at various times in the immediate postoperative period: five minutes after arrival, 30 minutes later, and just before discharge. Among 149 inpatients studied, one or more hypoxemic measurements were made in 21 (14%) during their postoperative course. Of 92 outpatients, 1 (1%) was found to be hypoxemic. For inpatients, the prevalence of hypoxemia preoperatively, 5 minutes after arrival in recovery, 30 minutes later, and at discharge was 2%, 4%, 6%, and 9%, respectively. Patient factors associated with a significantly higher prevalence of hypoxemia were obesity (22%), body cavity surgical procedures (24%), age over 40 years (18%), American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status (I, 7%; II, 17%; III, 18%; IV, 100%), duration of anesthesia longer than 90 minutes (18%), and intraoperative administration of greater than 1,500 ml of fluid (20%). Unrecognized hypoxemia in postsurgical inpatients with or without these risk factors is common. Therefore routine monitoring of these patients with a pulse oximeter is suggested.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115.
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Buschman
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Warren
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Philip
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Raemer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures; D000762:Anesthesia Recovery Period; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000379:methods*; D010092:Oximetry; D011184:Postoperative Period; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors