title: Ventilation with nitrous oxide during open cholecystectomy increases the incidence of postoperative hypoxemia.
abstract: The effect of intraoperative use of air versus nitrous oxide (N2O) on postoperative oxygen (O2) saturation in blood was evaluated in 40 ASA Class I and II patients undergoing elective, open cholecystectomy. Patients were allocated randomly to two groups on the basis of whether they received air (Group A, n = 20) or N2O (Group B, n = 20) intraoperatively. Oxygen saturation was recorded on arrival of the patients in the ward, 24 h, and 48 h postoperatively. Although mean O2 saturation did not differ significantly (P > 0.05) between the groups over the first 24 h postoperatively, it was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in Group A as compared to Group B 48 h postoperatively. Incidence of hypoxemia (O2 saturation < 90%) was 40% in Group B as compared to 0% in Group A at the end of 48 h postoperatively. We conclude that the use of N2O during cholecystectomy is associated with a higher incidence of hypoxemia postoperatively.
authors: Department of Anesthesiology, King Fahad National Guard Hospital, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Maroof
authors: R M
authors: RM
authors: Khan
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Siddique
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000388:Air; D002763:Cholecystectomy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009609:Nitrous Oxide / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D009609:Nitrous Oxide