title: Continuous monitoring of arterial oxygen saturation with pulse oximetry during transfer to the recovery room.
abstract: The incidence of hypoxemia in the immediate postoperative period was determined using a pulse oximeter for continuous monitoring of arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) in 95 ASA class I or II adult patients breathing room air during their transfer from the operating room to the recovery room. Hypoxemia was defined as 90% SaO2 (arterial oxygen partial pressure (PaO2) approximately equal to 58 mm Hg). Severe hypoxemia was defined as 85% SaO2 (PaO2 approximately equal to 50 mm Hg). Hypoxemia occurred in 33 (35%) patients; severe hypoxemia occurred in 11 (12%). Postoperative hypoxemia did not correlate significantly with anesthetic agent, age, duration of anesthesia, or level of consciousness. There was a statistically significant correlation (P less than 0.05) between hypoxemia and obesity. All three patients with a history of mild asthma became severely hypoxemic even though none had perioperative evidence of obstructive disease, also a statistically significant (P less than 0.003) finding.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000762:Anesthesia Recovery Period; D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood; D010092:Oximetry / Q000379:methods*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D011184:Postoperative Period; D012119:Respiration
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen