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Supplemental oxygen after ambulatory surgical procedures
R S Murray1, D B Raemer, R W Morris
1Department of Anesthesia, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115.
Anesthesia and Analgesia
|October 1, 1988
Summary
Supplemental oxygen may be needed for ambulatory surgery patients during anesthesia recovery. Hypoxemia (low oxygen) occurred in 7% of patients, increasing with age, and was unpredictable.
Area of Science:
- Anesthesiology
- Postoperative Care
- Respiratory Physiology
Background:
- Ambulatory surgery is increasingly common.
- General anesthesia recovery requires careful monitoring of oxygenation.
- Routine supplemental oxygen use in recovery is debated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the need for supplemental oxygen in healthy ambulatory surgery patients during the first postoperative hour.
- To identify factors influencing hypoxemia in this population.
Main Methods:
- 164 healthy women undergoing ambulatory surgery were studied.
- Arterial oxygen saturation (SpO2) was monitored via pulse oximetry.
- Supplemental oxygen was administered only when SpO2 fell below 92%.
Main Results:
- 7% of patients (12/164) experienced hypoxemia (SpO2 ≤ 92%).
- The incidence of hypoxemia correlated positively with increasing patient age.
- Hypoxemia was unpredictable and not linked to smoking, intubation, anesthetic duration, or sedative/opioid dosage.
Conclusions:
- Hypoxemia can occur unpredictably in healthy ambulatory surgery patients during general anesthesia recovery.
- Routine monitoring of arterial oxygenation or provision of supplemental oxygen is recommended in the absence of monitoring.