Effect of subcutaneous salbutamol on postoperative pulmonary function in patients undergoing elective cholecystectomy

In a double-blind study, 14 patients underwent elective cholecystectomy. The patients were randomly allocated to two groups of seven to receive either s.c. salbutamol 0.5 mg or placebo 0.5 mg immediately before extubation and every 6 h for 48 h. In the placebo group there was a significant reduction in mean arterial oxygen tension of seven patients 3, 27 and 51 h after surgery (P = 0.006, P = 0.01 and P = 0.02) compared with the mean value before operation. The reduction in mean arterial oxygen tension in the group receiving salbutamol was not significant 3 h after surgery (P = 0.13), whereas reduction was significant 27 and 51 h later (P = 0.01 and P = 0.02) compared with the mean value before operation. Mean arterial oxygen tension was significantly higher in the salbutamol group than in the placebo group 3 h after operation (P = 0.03), whereas it was not significant 27 and 51 h later (P = 0.48 and P = 0.55). Mean spirometric values showed significant reductions 27 and 51 h after operation in both groups compared with the pre-operative measurements. Smaller insignificant differences were found between the salbutamol and placebo groups 27 and 51 h after operation. However, mean FEV1 in the salbutamol group 51 h after operation was 22% higher in comparison with the placebo group. Our results suggest that salbutamol may reduce postoperative hypoxaemia during the first few hours after the operation, but not later on.