title: Oxygen delivery as a factor in the development of fatal postoperative complications after oesophagectomy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study was designed to assess the impact of oxygen transport variables on outcome in 115 patients undergoing elective surgery for oesophageal carcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Haemodynamic parameters were determined using a Swan-Ganz catheter in all patients on the day before operation, 6 h after operation, and daily for the first 4 days after operation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Oxygen delivery and consumption at 6 h were significantly higher in survivors than in non-survivors. However, oxygen delivery and consumption in both groups did not differ significantly after postoperative day 1. Of 17 patients with oxygen delivery levels lower than 445 ml min-1 m-2 at 6 h, eight died in hospital. Oxygen delivery in patients who developed either an anastomotic leak or severe pneumonia was significantly lower 6 h after surgery. Lower levels of oxygen delivery preceded postoperative complications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Oxygen delivery 6 h after oesophagectomy correlates with postoperative complications and may be a determinant of hospital mortality.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Surgery, Kagoshima University, School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kusano
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baba
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takao
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sane
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shimada
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shirao
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Natsugoe
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fukumoto
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Aikou
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001692:Biological Transport; D001794:Blood Pressure; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016629:Esophagectomy / Q000379:methods* / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006439:Hemodynamics; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010100:Oxygen / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D013318:Stroke Volume; D014655:Vascular Resistance; D014797:Vital Capacity
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen