[The usefulness of a pulse oximeter on the postanesthesia round]

In our hospital, a patient must be transported to one of several types of wards according to the degree of severity of illness (PPC-system). Severely ill patients are surveyed in ICU and HCU with various kinds of monitors. On the contrary, for the patients outside the ICU and HCU wards, the number of monitors is not enough even during postoperative periods. Therefore, we studied the occurrence of hypoxic state of patients with a portable pulse oximeter on postanesthesia round. We surveyed 843 patients during 4 months, and found 79 hypoxemic patients. The number of hypoxemic patients was greater not only after longer operations and anesthesia, but also in obese patients (P < 0.05) as reported previously. Interestingly, we also found more hypoxemic patients in common wards than in ICU and HCU wards. In conclusion, a portable pulse oximeter is a useful equipment in ordinary wards during postanesthesia round.