[Peroperative and early postoperative hypoxemia]

Arterial hypoxaemia is observed during operation and also in the recovery room. Hypoxaemia during operation may be due to altered pulmonary mechanical conditions, drug-induced physiological changes and technical errors. Early postoperative hypoxaemia is frequently observed after general anaesthesia and may, among other things, be due to diffusion hypoxaemia, hyperventilation-induced hypoventilation, residual curarization, hypoventilation induced by sedatives or analgesics and ventilation/perfusion alterations. The clinical significance of peroperative and early postoperative hypoxaemia is not yet elucidated and treatment consists primarily of increasing the oxygen concentration in the inspired air.