Evaluation of PO2 and PCO2 changes during surgical removal of third molars utilizing enflurane anesthesia

This study investigated the changes in partial pressure of oxygen during surgical removal of wisdom teeth utilizing a spontaneous ventilation general anesthesia technique with enflurane. Simultaneous transcutaneous and arterial blood gas determination confirmed the presence of two oxygen patterns. Normal preoperative pulmonary function tests, coupled with the stability of the Paco(2) between surgery and extubation, indicates that the 23±10 mmHg increase in transcutaneous oxygen (Ptco(2)) reported in 14 of 27 patients evaluated, was due to ventilation perfusion defects, since 13 of the 27 patients showed a 149±22 mmHg increase in Ptco(2) during the same time period.