What is the incidence of hypoxemia during transfer from the operating room to the recovery room in ASA class I or II adult patients?
Continuous pulse oximetry monitoring reveals a high incidence of hypoxemia during postoperative transfer, particularly in obese patients and those with a history of mild asthma.
The incidence of hypoxemia in the immediate postoperative period was determined using a pulse oximeter for continuous monitoring of arterial oxygen saturation (Sao2) in 95 ASA class I or II adult patients breathing room air during their transfer from the operating room to the recovery room. Hypoxemia was defined as 90% Sao2 (arterial oxygen partial pressure (PaO2) ≅ 58 mm Hg). Severe hypoxemia was defined as 85% Sao2 (PaO2 ≅ 50 mm Hg). Hypoxemia occurred in 33 (35%) patients; severe hypoxemia occurred in 11 (12%). Postoperative hypoxemia did not correlate significantly with anesthetic agent, age, duration of anesthesia, or level of consciousness. There was a statistically significant correlation (P < 0.05) between hypoxemia and obesity. All three patients with a history of mild asthma became severely hypoxemic even though none had perioperative evidence of obstructive disease, also a statistically significant (P < 0.003) finding.
Tyler et al. (Fri,) studied this question.