[Monitoring and oxygen therapy during gastrointestinal endoscopy]

Gastroenterological Societies in Britain and USA have published recommendations for sedation, monitoring and oxygen therapy during gastrointestinal endoscopy. No scientific basis for the introduction of recommendations such as these is, however, present as it has not yet been proved that hypoxaemia is responsible for morbidity and mortality on gastrointestinal endoscopy. The pathogenesis of the development of myocardial ischaemia during gastrointestinal endoscopy is considered by many to be the simultaneous arterial hypoxaemia but recent investigations suggest that tachycardia is a more important factor. The scientific data available at present in this field is not conclusive. Introduction of recommendations for monitoring and oxygen therapy during gastrointestinal endoscopy in Denmark should be delayed until elucidation of the mechanisms involved has been undertaken.