[Spinal anesthesia for 12 patients receiving home oxygen therapy]

From Jan 2001 to Nov 2003, 12 patients receiving home oxygen therapy (HOT) underwent surgery under spinal anesthesia at Okayama Rosai Hospital. The basic diseases for HOT were emphysema (n=8), interstitial pneumonia (n=1), asthma (n=1) and lung cancer (n=1). Mean FEV1.0 and FVC were 0.85 l and 1.97 l, respectively. Mean PaO2 and PaCO2 were 76.5 mmHg and 45.5 mmHg, respectively, under nasal oxygen of 1.67 l x min(-1). Perioperative complications occured in 3 cases. In case 5, postoperative heart failure occured and was easily treated with diuretics. In case 8, intraoperative hypotension (systemic blood pressure less than 80 mmHg) occured. In case 12, the patient developed dyspnea because of high spinal anesthetic level of T1. She was not intubated because PaO2, PaCO2 and pH were not deteriorated. Perioperative PaO2, PaCO2 and pH were stable and there were no pulmonary or morbid complications in all cases. It is important to assess not only pulmonary function but also cardiovascular status by echocardiography and general physical status by Hugh-Jones classification in order to avoid severe complications.