[Inefficacy of theophylline in preventing hypoxemia in abdominal surgery]

It would be very useful to prevent post surgery ventilatory and gazometric insufficiencies that represent a significant risk factor. Ten patients have received proper doses of theophyllin in order to maintain accurate plasmatic concentration immediately after surgery. During the next 24 hours, their respiratory frequency, tidal volume, ventilation per minute, PaO2 and PaCO2 have been recorded. Those data have been compared with a test group (N = 10) having received injections of placebo. No relevant discrepancy exists in the ventilation parameters nor any increase of PaO2. The significant factor is a substantial decrease of PaCO2. It appears that theophyllin has no significatory efficiency for controlling the post surgery hypoventilation and hypoxemia.