Perioperative desaturation: incidence, causes, management and outcome.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the incidence, causes, management and outcome of desaturation occurring in the perioperative peroids (induction, maintence, emergence and recovery room) at Siriraj Hospital from June 2001-December 2001.


METHODS
Perioperative incident reports were collected and analyzed. Patients were catergorized as having desaturation if the SPO2 was below 90 per cent for more than 3 minutes. The incidence, causes, management, and outcomes of these patients were examined in detail.


RESULTS
62 out of 16,716 cases (0.37%) experienced desaturation. Elective patients (0.41%) experienced desaturation more frequently than emergency patients (0.14%). The causes were airway obstruction, hypoventilation, endotracheal tube problems, aspiration, atelectasis, and pulmonary edema. These patients were treated with higher FiO2, airway management, and ventilatory support which led to unplanned ICU admission. 4 patients developed cardiac arrest with successful resuscitation although 2 patients had cerebral infarction.


CONCLUSIONS
Perioperative desaturation is an important sign of respiratory complications that should be recognized and treated immediately to prevent mortality and serious morbidity.
Raksakietisak
Manee
M
Department of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand.
Chinachoti
Thitima
T
Vudhikamraksa
Siriluk
S
Svastdi-Xuto
Oranee
O
Surachetpong
Sudkanoung
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000758:Anesthesia / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood*; D019990:Perioperative Care; D011446:Prospective Studies
D010100:Oxygen