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Body build and preoperative arterial oxygen tensions
Canadian Anaesthetists' Society Journal
|November 1, 1975
Summary
Arterial oxygen tension (PaO2) decreases with age and weight-to-height ratio in surgical patients. Premedication with phenobarbitone did not appear to cause respiratory depression.
Area of Science:
- Anesthesiology
- Physiology
Background:
- Intraoperative hypoxemia is a significant concern in surgical patients.
- Factors influencing arterial oxygen tension (PaO2) require further investigation.
- The impact of patient demographics and premedication on PaO2 is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between age, weight, weight-to-height ratio, and PaO2 in surgical patients.
- To assess the effect of phenobarbitone premedication on PaO2.
- To identify factors contributing to intraoperative hypoxemia.
Main Methods:
- Arterial oxygen tensions were measured in 35 unpremedicated supine surgical patients.
- Correlations between PaO2 and age, weight, and weight/height ratio were analyzed.
- PaO2 was also assessed in 20 patients who received phenobarbitone premedication.
Main Results:
- A significant linear reduction in PaO2 was observed with increasing age.
- A relationship was found between weight-to-height ratio and PaO2.
- Patients receiving phenobarbitone premedication showed PaO2 levels above the predicted line for their age.
Conclusions:
- Age and weight-to-height ratio are significant factors influencing PaO2 in surgical patients.
- Reduced functional residual capacity (FRC) associated with weight-to-height ratio may contribute to intraoperative hypoxemia.
- Phenobarbitone premedication does not appear to cause significant respiratory depression, as evidenced by maintained PaO2 levels.