Does feeding alter arterial oxygen saturation in patients with acute stroke?
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 13, 2026

Integration of Brain Tissue Saturation Monitoring in Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing in Patients with Heart Failure
Published on: October 1, 2019
A M Rowat1, J M Wardlaw, M S Dennis
1Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital, Crewe Road South, Edinburgh, UK. annerowat@hotmail.com
Background And Purpose:
We measured arterial oxygen saturation (SaO(2)) during eating in acute stroke patients to establish the frequency of any meal-related hypoxemia, which could further damage already vulnerable brain tissue.
Methods:
Stroke patients (=12 days from stroke onset) classified as "safe to feed orally" were compared with elderly hospitalized (for nonneurological causes) and young healthy controls. SaO(2) was measured noninvasively at the bedside by pulse oximetry continuously for 10 minutes before the patient ate a meal, during the meal, and for 10 minutes after completion of the meal.
Results:
The median baseline SaO(2) was significantly lower in stroke patients (n=106, 95.7%) than elderly (n=50, 96.7%) or young control subjects (n=20, 97.9%; P:<0.001). There was a small decrease in the median SaO(2) during eating in stroke and elderly patients (95.6%, P:=0.08, and 96.3%, P:=0.004, respectively) but not in young controls. Only stroke patients had a significantly lower median SaO(2) after completion of the meal (95. 4%, P:<0.001). SaO(2) of =90% during and after eating occurred in 24% of stroke and 16% of elderly patients but not in young controls, and it was significantly more common in those who had SaO(2) of =90% during the baseline recordings (P:=0.003).
Conclusions:
Eating a meal was associated with a small fall in median SaO(2) among stroke and elderly patients, but only in stroke patients did this persist for at least 10 minutes after eating. A quarter of stroke patients had episodes in which the SaO(2) fell to =90% saturation (ie, hypoxemia) during or after eating, although this rarely coincided exactly with swallowing and was more common in patients who also experienced desaturation during the baseline recordings. Further studies are required to establish whether these changes are clinically important.
Related Concept Videos
Assessment of Diffusion and Perfusion
The Role of Diffusion in Respiration
Diffusion is the process by which molecules move from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration. In the respiratory system, this principle...
Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Oxygen Therapy for Respiratory Failure
Oxygen therapy is vital in increasing and maintaining blood oxygen levels in PAH patients. As a result, it aids in reducing fatigue, improving...
Special considerations while measuring oxygen saturation
Ensuring accuracy in vital sign recordings while prioritizing patient comfort and minimizing anxiety is important.
Acute Respiratory Failure-IV
Acute Coronary Syndrome V: Nursing Management
Heart Failure VI: Adjunct Therapies
