title: Predictors of desaturation during patient transport to the postoperative anesthesia care unit: an observational study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The transport of postoperative patients to the postoperative anesthesia care unit (PACU) is a high-risk period for hypoxemia. The aim of this study was to determine risk factors for hypoxemia during transfers to the PACU.
  
  
  METHODS
  An observational, prospective, monocentric, and noninterventional study was conducted in the University Hospital of Toulouse in 2015 during a 5-week period. All patients who were transferred to PACU were included. Twenty-eight variables related to patient, surgery, and anesthesia were recorded. Hypoxemia during transfer was defined as Spo2<90%.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five hundred five patients were included. The incidence of hypoxemia during transfer was 13%. After logistic regression analysis, 3 risk factors for desaturation were identified: sedation score >2, Spo2<96% before exiting the operating room (OR), and body mass index >30 kg/m2. The 72% of patients were transferred without oxygen. Most of the hypoxemia appears in these patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The development of hypoxemia during transfer from the OR to the PACU was greater in patients who were obese, were more sedated, or had lower oxygen saturations upon leaving the OR. The rates of hypoxemia were greater among patients in whom supplemental oxygen was not administered. Supplemental oxygen should be considered in higher risk patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Toulouse University Hospital, Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Labaste
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Toulouse University Hospital, Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: Stein
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Toulouse University Hospital, Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: Léa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Serin-Moulin
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Toulouse University Hospital, Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: Etienne
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lefèvre
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Toulouse University Hospital, Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Georges
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Toulouse University Hospital, Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: Jean-Marie
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Conil
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Toulouse University Hospital, Toulouse, France. Electronic address: minville.v@chu-toulouse.fr.
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Minville
mesh_terms: D000758:Anesthesia / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D000762:Anesthesia Recovery Period; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications; D010092:Oximetry; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D010102:Oxygen Inhalation Therapy; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011997:Recovery Room; D012307:Risk Factors; D014187:Transportation of Patients
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen
keywords: Hypoxemia; Risk factors; Transport to PACU